LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University volleyball team (1-1) opened the 2018 season today at home in tri-meet action. In the day's opener, Lock Haven fell to West Liberty (1-1), 3-1 (25-13, 19-25, 25-21 & 25-18) despite a hard-fought effort throughout. The Bald Eagles rebounded with a dominating 3-0 (25-6, 25-20 & 25-23) win over Davis & Elkins (1-1).
 
In the day's other match, Davis & Elkins downed West Liberty 3-2 to round out the tri-match.
 
West Liberty 3 - Lock Haven 1 (25-13, 19-25, 25-21 & 25-18)
 
Despite the 3-1 loss, the opening match of the season proved to be a tight one. After dropping a thrilling first set, 25-23, Lock Haven rebounded and won the second set. LHU hit .233 as a team in the second set and won, 25-19.
 
Leading the way for the match was Shaye Whiteman (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg), one of the premier defensive players in all of college volleyball. She finished with a match-high 40 digs. Kristen Nealon (Horsham, Pa./Archbishop Wood) paced LHU with 39 assists.
 
Gabrielle Stick (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) knocked down 13 kills and Breanna McDonald (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) added 10. The two hit .293 and .267, respectively.
 
Lock Haven 3 – Davis & Elkins 0 (25-6, 25-20, 25-23)
 
The Bald Eagles soared past D&E for their first win of the season. LHU jumped out to an early lead and never looked back before winning the first set 25-6, behind a sizzling .333 team hitting percentage. As team, Lock Haven hit .291 for the match.
 
Individually, Stick, McDonald and Veronica Morrison (Wyalusing, Pa./Wyalusing Valley) led the offense. Stick recorded 10 kills, while Morrison hit .462 with 14 kills and McDonald hit .556 with 11 kills.
 
Nealon led Lock Haven with 36 assists and nine digs. Whiteman was strong again and tallied 17 digs.
 
UP NEXT:
The Bald Eagles will now turn their attention to next weekend's Rebich Investments Invitational, hosted by Edinboro University. On Friday, August 31, Lock Haven will play Edinboro at 7 p.m. before playing Glenville State (10 a.m.) and Davis & Elkins (2 p.m.) on Saturday, September 1.