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LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University volleyball team is set for the NCAA Tournament which begins Thursday, November 29 when the Lady Eagles take on Clarion University at 5 p.m. at Wheeling Jesuit in Wheeling, W. Va.

Setting the Stage:
Lock Haven enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 5 seed in the Atlantic Region and LHU is coming off of a runner-up finish at the PSAC Tournament.

The Haven currently boasts a 26-10 overall record and went 16-3 in the PSAC this season, which earned them the top seed in the Eastern Division.

Clarion enters Thursday's match as the No. 4 seed in the Atlantic Region and has a 23-11 overall record.

The Golden Eagles have dropped their last four matches, including a 3-1 loss to California (Pa.) in the PSAC Quarterfinals.

Series History:
Lock Haven and Clarion have been rivals throughout the past few seasons.  The two teams met in last year's PSAC semi-finals, as well as the NCAA Tournament. 

The Haven completed a sensational three-set comeback to win the PSAC semi-final match on their home floor. 

In the 2011 NCAA Tournament, the two teams met in the first round of regionals.  LHU held off Clarion, 3-2 in another five-set thriller to move on to the second round.

Lock Haven leads the all-time series with Clarion, 38-12.  The Haven fell on the road to Clarion earlier this season in PSAC crossover action, 3-2.

Coach Kreiger's Take:
Head coach Dan Kreiger is proud of what his team has done so far, but knows that this weekend is what the team has really been working for.

“It is a great opportunity to be in the NCAA Tournament.  This team has been working very hard to be playing their best volleyball of the season right now,” said Kreiger.  “I'm proud of what we have accomplished, but we still have one more goal to try and accomplish this weekend.”

LHU in NCAA Regionals:
The NCAA Tournament has been a familiar place for The Haven throughout the years.  This year marks the 15th time that LHU has reached the NCAA Tournament since the program's beginning in 1991.

Lock Haven has won the region seven different times, with the last time coming in 2006 when LHU downed California (Pa.) to advance to the Elite 8.

Last Time at Regionals:
The Haven advanced to the NCAA Tournament last year as the No. 6 seed in the Atlantic Region.

LHU battled No. 3 seeded Clarion in a five-set thriller and the Lady Eagles came out victorious, 3-2.

LHU led 2-1 in the match, but Clarion would not go away and evened the match 2-2.  Lock Haven went on to roll in the fifth set however, 15-5 to advance to the second round.

Lock Haven posted a .545 hitting percentage in the fifth set.

Gao Xuan (Dong Ying, China/Zibo No. 10 Middle School) had a match-high 17 kills, while Bailey Farthing (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) and Grace Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) had 15 and 11, respectively.

The Haven would fall in the second round to No. 2 seeded Wheeling Jesuit, 3-0.

Last Time vs. Clarion:
Lock Haven and Clarion met in a crossover match earlier this season at Clarion University.  The Golden Eagles beat Lock Haven, 3-2 in a very close match.

Lock Haven came out on fire and won the first set 15-12.  Clarion fought back strong and took set two 28-26 and set three 25-13.

The Haven would not go down easily however, and won set four 25-17 before falling in the final set 25-17.

Gao Xuan led LHU with 19 kills in the match.

Alexa Garrity (Boothwyn, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) dished out 47 assists in the match and Erin Walsh (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) tallied 22 digs.

Four Lady Eagles Earn AVCA All-Region Honors:
Four members of the Lock Haven University volleyball team have been named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II All-Atlantic Region Team.

PSAC East Athlete of the Year Gao Xuan earned AVCA All-Region status for the fourth time in her career.

Also earning All-Region honors were PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year Erin Walsh, senior setter Alexa Garrity and junior middle hitter Bailey Farthing.

Lock Haven is the only school in the Atlantic Region with four players on the team.

Xuan, Walsh, Garrity and Farthing were all named to the PSAC East First Team this season.

Xuan Leads the Way:
Senior outside hitter Gao Xuan has had an outstanding senior season for LHU.  Xuan has been named to the AVCA All-Region Team, the CoSIDA Capital One All-District Team and was named PSAC East Athlete of the Year for the fourth time in her career. 

Xuan is the only volleyball player ever to earn Athlete of the Year four times.

Xuan leads the Lady Eagles with 475 kills this season and averages 3.77 kills per game.  She has posted a .314 hitting percentage and is second on the team with 320 digs.

NCAA Atlantic Region Bracket
No 1. Wheeling Jesuit (35-2) vs. No. 8 Fayetteville State (28-5) 7:30 p.m.
No. 4 Clarion (23-11) vs. No. 5 Lock Haven (26-10) 5 p.m.
No. 2 Gannon (28-5) vs. No. 7 Mercyhurst (25-10) 2:30 p.m.
No. 3 California (Pa.) (28-7) vs. No. 6 Shippensburg (27-11) 12 p.m.

Up Next:
The winner of the Lock Haven/Clarion match will face the winner of the Wheeling Jesuit/Fayetteville State match on Friday (November 30) at 7:30.