LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - The Lock Haven women's volleyball team will open the 2024 season at the Cedarville Invitational in a three-game slate from Sept. 6-7.
 
Setting the Stage:
In 2023, the Bald Eagles secured their first berth to the PSAC Eastern Division postseason since 2015, after securing the No. 4 seed during the last week of the regular season. Lock Haven racked up 11 wins overall, with five coming in conference play.
 
The Bald Eagles reached double-digit victories for the first time since 2018, while reaching the postseason for the first time since 2015.
 
Lock Haven also finished with five sweeps over opponents this season, after finishing with none in 2022.
 
Lock Haven opens the season at the Cedarville Invitational on Friday, Sept. 6. The Bald Eagles will face off against Cedarville and Central State at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. The following day (Sept. 7), Lock Haven will be matched up against Saginaw Valley State.
 
The following weekend (Sept. 13-14), The Haven will travel to IUP for the Crimson Hawk Classic in a four-game slate. The Bald Eagles will play Ashland and West Virginia State on Friday, Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively. On Saturday, Sept. 14, Lock Haven will face off against Adelphi at 11 a.m. and IUP at 7 p.m.
 
Live Coverage - Fans can watch all home volleyball events at GoLHU.com.
 
Digital Programs – Visit our new Gameday Hub – GoLHU.com/programs
The Lock Haven Department of Athletics, in partnership with the Athletic Communications and Marketing office, is excited to offer fans and followers of the Bald Eagles a new way to access game day information while in attendance with the introduction of digital programs at home events for the 2024-25 academic year.
 
Preseason Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Rankings:
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced the 2024 Preseason Coaches' Polls on Aug. 15, and the Lock Haven volleyball team was picked fifth in the PSAC Eastern Division.
 
Shippensburg received five of eight first-place votes and was picked by the coaches as the preseason favorite. Shepherd and East Stroudsburg checked in at No. 2 and 3, respectively. West Chester was voted fourth, one spot ahead of Lock Haven, and No. 6 Bloomsburg, No. 7 Kutztown, and No. 8 Millersville rounded out the Eastern Division preseason rankings.
 
Last year, Lock Haven finished with a 5-9 record in PSAC play and an 11-13 record overall, marking an incredible turnaround from a one-win season in 2022. The Bald Eagles finished fourth in the PSAC standings last year, which pushed The Haven into the PSAC postseason tournament for the first time since 2015.
 
In addition, the 11-win season marked the Bald Eagles' first double-digit finish in wins since 2015.
 
A Look at the Schedule:
Lock Haven will kick off the 2024 season with a pair of tournament appearances, the first of which is scheduled for Sept. 6 – 7 at the Cedarville Invitational where the Bald Eagles will play three matches in two days.
 
On September 13 and 14, The Haven will travel to Indiana, Pennsylvania for the IUP Crimson Hawk Classic and play four matches in two days.
 
The Bald Eagles will open PSAC play on Friday, Sept. 27 against Bloomsburg. This match will kick off The Haven's 2024 Homecoming Weekend.
 
In all, Lock Haven will host seven home matches for the 2024 season.
 
Top Returners:
2023 Statistics:
Mike Kraft returns as the head coach for his second season after being named the PSAC East Coach of the Year in 2023. Kraft became the program's first PSAC East Coach of the Year since 2010, after orchestrating the Bald Eagles to a 10-win overall increase and four-win improvement in the PSAC East.
 
Kelly Gaston will be one of many returning players for the 2024 season. Gaston directed the offense last year with 715 total assists. She also recorded 228 digs on the season. Gaston, who becomes the first Lock Haven women's volleyball athlete to earn all-conference since 2018, was named to the All-PSAC Second Team after her standout season as the Bald Eagles' setter.
 
The Bald Eagles return all of their top hitters from last season, including Evie Jane Rembold, Emma Kelly, Reagan Irons, and Alyssa Daley. Rembold finished with 173 kills and recorded the top-hitting percentage on the team. Defensively, The Haven will also get a boost from Natalie Acevedo, who is one of many more key returnees.
 
Newcomers:
Olivia Cook, Avery Nicholson, Avery Beall, Gracelynn Wolzen, Gabby Gealey, Clair Pavick, Erin Ferello, and Katrina Cowder make up the 2024 recruiting class.
 
Up Next:
Following their pair of tournament appearances, the Bald Eagles will travel to Lincoln on Saturday, Sept. 21 for a 4 p.m. match.