Box Score WHEELING, W.Va. – The Lock Haven University volleyball team (26-11) fell to rival Clarion University (24-11) 3-0 tonight in the opening road of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

Lock Haven came into the Atlantic Region quarterfinals as the five-seed, while rival-Clarion was the four-seed.

Despite the loss, Gao Xuan (Dong Ying, China/Zibo No. 10 Middle School) was a huge offensive bright spot for Lock Haven. She hit .405 with 18 kills and added 10 digs.

Bailey Farthing (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman) led Lock Haven on defense with six blocks, while Erin Walsh (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) had 19 digs.

Grace Novacek (Aliquippa, Pa./Hopewell) chipped in with six kills.

Alex Garrity (Boothwyn, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) paced Lock Haven's attack with 31 assists.

Clarion opened the match on a three-point run (3-0) and led 8-2 at one point. LHU trailed 17-9 before a five-point Haven-run made it 17-14. Lock Haven tied the match at 20-20 and 23-23, but Clarion scored the final two points of the opening set to win, 25-23.

Lock Haven hit .235 in the second set as it came down to the wire.

Much like Clarion in the first set, Lock Haven jumped on the Golden Eagles in the second set. LHU led 4-1 before the two teams began to exchange points. The score was tied eight times in set two, before Clarion finally started to pull away leading, 19-17. A four-point Clarion run put the Golden Eagles up 23-17 and Clarion held on for the set-two win, 25-17.

Clarion jumped on The Haven early in set 3, taking a 7-2 lead. Clarion led 16-7 before trudging to the 25-23, set-three win.

Clarion hit .333 in the second set and .233 in the third set, recording 16 kills in both.

Hannah Heeter led the way for Clarion. She recorded 12 kills and hit. 360 for the match. Carlie Bieranowski and Emily Stewart both added 10 kills for the Golden Eagles.

HTML Box Score –

Match Notes:
• The match had 14 ties and 10 lead changes.
• LHU hit .140 for the match, while Clarion hit. 228.
• Lock Haven entered the NCAA Tournament as the Atlantic Region's No. 5 seed … The Haven was 26-10 coming into the tournament … LHU fell in in the PSAC Championship match to Gannon … LHU was the PSAC East regular season champs for the fourth straight year.
• Tonight's match marked Lock Haven's 15th appearance in the NCAA Division II Volleyball Tournament.
• Clarion beat Lock Haven during the regular season, 3-2 … Lock Haven leads the all-time series with Clarion 38-13.
• The Haven is home to seven Region Titles with the last coming in 2006.
• Today was the first NCAA Tournament match for first-year head coach Dan Kreiger and assistant coach Tricia Varno.
• Tonight marked the final match in the career of the Lady Eagles five seniors. Monica Brown, Alexa Garrity, Grace Novacek, Erin Walsh and Gao Xuan went 101-37 in their career. They were four-time PSAC East Championships and finished as PSAC Tournament runners-up three times.