LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University volleyball team opened the 2021 season today with a pair of matches at home as the two-day LHU Invitational got underway in Thomas Fieldhouse.
 
The Bald Eagles opened the day with a nail-biting loss to Malone, 3-1 (19-25, 27-25, 15-25, 21-25), but rallied against Roberts Wesleyan to win their second match of the day.
 
Lock Haven split the first two sets with Malone, losing the first set, 25-19, before picking up a thriller in the second, 27-25. Malone would go on to collect the next two, 25-15 and 25-21, despite incredible efforts from the LHU contingent.
 
Gabriela Fialova (Ledec Nad Sazavou, Czech Republic/Indian River State) led the team in kills with 14, but it was Kelly Gaston (Centennial, CO./Grandview) who was the most efficient on the front line. She recorded an impressive .312 attack percentage on 16 total-attacks. She added 29 assists and was the centerpiece of the Bald Eagles offense.
 
Fialova and Grace Hugar (Clarence, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) totaled 94 attacks in the game.
 
In game two, LHU came out swinging, notching three straight sets over Roberts Wesleyan (25-17, 25-13 and 25-18). Once again Fialova led the attack category with 10 kills, but this time it was Meghan Tennant (Bentleyville, Pa./Bentworth) who shined for the Bald Eagles collecting a near perfect nine kills on 11 attempts for a .818 attack percentage.
 
Libero Regan Happ (Lighthouse Point, FL./Westminster Academy) looked amazing serving, putting up a perfect 1.000 serve percentage on 13 attempts. She added an ace for good measure. Her 14 receptions also led the team in game two.
 
Tournament play will continue tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 4). Lock Haven will take on Notre Dame (Ohio) and Slippery Rock.
 
Full Day 1 Results and the Day 2 schedule are listed below. Full LHU stats and box scores are available on the volleyball page at GoLHU.com.
 
Friday, Sept. 3 // Day 1 Results
Slippery Rock vs. Notre Dame // Notre Dame wins 3-0 (28-26, 25-17, 25-12)
Malone vs. Lock Haven // Malone wins 3-1 (25-19, 25-27, 25-15, 25-21)
Roberts Wesleyan vs. Notre Dame // Notre Dame wins 3-0 (25-15, 25-9, 25-10)
Malone vs. Slippery Rock // Malone wins 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-21)
Roberts Wesleyan vs. Lock Haven // Lock Haven wins 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-18)
 
Saturday, Sept. 4 // Day 2 Schedule
11 a.m. Malone vs. Notre Dame
1 p.m. Slippery Rock vs. Roberts Wesleyan
3 p.m. Notre Dame vs. Lock Haven
5 p.m. Malone vs. Roberts Wesleyan
7 p.m. Slippery Rock vs. Lock Haven