Erie, Pa. – Three members of the Mercyhurst College volleyball team earned honors from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Thursday, as head coach Ryan Patton was named PSAC Western Division Coach of the Year while senior Jenna Matson and sophomore Erin English earned spots on the 2008 All-PSAC West Volleyball Teams.
Patton was named PSAC West Coach of the Year in Mercyhurst's first year in the conference. After the Lakers went just 4-13 in their final year in the GLIAC last year, and 18-14 overall, Patton led Mercyhurst to a 21-14 overall mark and a 6-6 record in the PSAC West this year and into the semifinals of the PSAC Tournament as the Lakers upset second-place Edinboro in the quarterfinals.
Matson, an outside hitter from Wexford, Pa., earned a spot on the first team after powering the Lakers with 355 kills through 35 games this season. Her kill total ranked her third on the team and 10th overall in the conference. Defensively, she marked 329 digs and 39 blocks.
English, a middle hitter from Brooklin, Ontario, was tabbed to the second team. She finished third on the squad with 259 kills in 595 attempts, converting at the highest percentage (.318) of any Laker playing in 30 or more games. She also notched 36 digs and 55 blocks.
Mercyhurst makes its first appearance in the NCAA tournament tonight when the Lakers take on Lock Haven at California (Pa.).