WARRIOR VOLLEYBALL SET TO TAKE ON KING’S FOR CONFERENCE TITLE

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College volleyball team will travel to King’s College, Saturday evening, to play for the Freedom Conference Championship and an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Championships.  The match will begin at 7:00 p.m. in Scandlon Gymnasium.

The top-seeded Lady Monarchs advanced to the title match by upending defending conference champion Scranton 3-0 in Wednesday's semi-finals. The victory improved King's, the 25th ranked team nationally in Division III, to 37-1 on the year. The Warriors entered the tournament as the second-seed and stand at 17-10 after reaching the championship match with 3-0 semi-final victory over third-seeded FDU-Florham. The Lady Monarchs, ranked second in the latest NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region poll, posted a 3-1 win over Lycoming on September 25 in the only meeting between the teams during the season.

Lycoming is led by junior Layne Haverstock (Hesston, PA; Huntingdon) with 369 kills, 199 digs, 149 total blocks, and 45 service aces. Sophomore Kelli Watson (East Freedom, PA; Central) follows with 351 kills, 125 digs, 52 aces, and 90 total blocks. Junior Melanie McCoy (Bloomingburg, OH; Miami Trace) adds 177 kills while senior Gretchen Hause (Severna Park, MD; Severna Park) contributes 135 kills and 108 total blocks.  Freshman Jana Reitz (Waynesboro, PA; Waynesboro) totals 108 kills and 254 digs while senior Valerie Troutman (Klingerstown, PA; Tri-Valley) chips in with 180 digs. Sophomore Seneca Reilly (Athens, PA; Athens) has distributed 1,008 assists with 118 digs and 54 aces while senior Jessica Held (Allentown, PA; Parkland) has posted 181 digs and 44 aces.

King's is led by senior outside hitter Faith O'Dell with 479 kills, 503 digs, and 63 aces, while senior setter Katie Baffone has 1,398 assists, 345 digs, and 67 aces. Junior outside hitter Jessica McVey follows with 392 kills, 531 digs, 94 aces, and 79 blocks, followed by junior middle hitter Annie German with 350 kills, 104 blocks, and 43 aces. Senior middle hitter Jill Leibman contributes 222 kills, 61 aces, and 108 blocks, while fellow senior middle hitter Stephanie Spencer adds 178 kills and 90 blocks. Senior libero Tara Holly and freshman outside hitter Katie Carr chip in with 495 and 261 digs respectively.

The winner of Saturday’s contest will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III National Championships slated for November 14-16 at a site to be determined. Ticket prices for the Freedom Conference Championship are set at $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for all students, while children under age six will be admitted free.