LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University women's volleyball team (2-0) opened the 2019 season this morning at the Rebich Investments Invitational with a win over Glenville State (0-2), 3-2, in the opening match. Then in their five o'clock matchup against West Virginia Wesleyan (0-1) the Haven rounded out their impressive performance with a 3-1 win.
 
The 2-0 day helped mark a special day for new head coach Eric Buggs as he grabbed the first two wins of his collegiate head coaching career.
 
Game 1: W, 3-2
 
Lock Haven would strike first in the opening sets winning a 27-25 first set and a 25-23 second to take a 2-0 lead after two hard-fought battles. Glenville State, however, responded by winning the third (27-25) and fourth (25-20) to force a deciding fifth set. The Bald Eagles regrouped in the fifth and won by a decisive 15-10 score line to open their win count for the season.
 
Offensively, the Bald Eagles were paced by their senior middle blocker Breanna McDonald (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) who racked up a career high 21 kills in an all-around performance. McDonald also recorded eight digs and led all players with five total blocks (2 solo 3 Assists). Kristen Nealon (Horsham, Pa./Archbishop Wood) opened her assist account for the year with 52. Nealon added two service aces and 14 digs.
 
In another career best, Paige Wolfe (Plano, Tx./Plano West) led the Haven with 21 digs. Wolfe also added two service aces and three assists.
 
Game 2: W, 3-1
 
The Bald Eagles picked up right where they left off winning the second match of the day, 3-1, over West Virginia Wesleyan. Lock Haven won the first set 25-18 before dropping a close second 22-25. The third and fourth belonged to Lock Haven as they won 25-12 in set three and 25-21 in the fourth to win the match and go 2-0 on the day.
 
McDonald once again was at the forefront of the Lock Haven attack recording 13 kills giving her a total of 34 kills on the day.
 
Cassidy Hoover (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle High) was also a key component in Lock Haven's second win of the day. Hoover did a little bit of everything recording eight kills to go along with 10 digs.
 
"The two wins are good to get early on in the season and hopefully we can continue the momentum into tomorrow", Buggs said. "The first match we were able to overcome some adversity and show a lot of fight and determination. Overall getting two wins helps with building team chemistry and continuing to grow as a collective unit. I am happy with getting two wins toady and look forward to building off them tomorrow."
 
Next Up:
The Bald Eagles will wrap up the second day at the Rebich Investments Invitational with two more matches on Saturday. First at 10 a.m. LHU faces off against Salem University and then at 4 p.m. finish up against Minnesota State-Moorhead University.