ERIE, Pa. – Youth meets experience in Thursday's NCAA II Atlantic Region volleyball match between seventh-seeded Mercyhurst and second-seeded Lock Haven. 

The Lakers are in the national tournament for just the second time in program history. They have just two seniors on their roster and their offensive firepower is fueled by a pair of rookie sensations. 

Meanwhile, Lock Haven is looking for its eighth regional crown, taking home four straight titles from 2003-2006 and three others in 2001, 1998 and 1997. The Lady Eagles have won six Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships and have produced numerous Athlete and Coach of the Year honorees. 

To outsiders, it would seem the two PSAC teams are on course for a David vs. Goliath battle. However, the Lady Eagles hold just a slight advantage in the all-time series at 8-5, including last year's upset by the Lakers midseason in which Mercyhurst dropped a 3-0 whitewashing on the perennial powerhouse. 

And now, after losing to the Lady Eagles last year in the PSAC semifinals and in the NCAA Atlantic Regional by a 3-0 count in each, Mercyhurst seems more poised than ever to continue the upset trend and knock off a squad that boasts a 32-5 record. 

One of the reasons for an upset alert hinges on the golden arm of freshman outside hitter Chelsea Jensen, who ranks ninth in the PSAC in kills (307) and sixth in aces (57). Aiding her is fellow rookie Becky Leusch, who provides an explosive offensive attack as well as a solid wall in the blocking scheme with another indispensable rookie in Becky Smith. 

Combine these freshmen with the leadership of senior setter Julia Butler, who ranks seventh in the league with 974 helpers, and the quiet confidence of middle blocker Justine Smith and it's easy to see why head coach Ryan Patton looks to lead the Lakers to their first-ever NCAA win. 

“Our season has probably been pretty predictable for a team as young as ours,” said Patton. “There have been some games and matches where we've looked probably as good as any team ever at Mercyhurst, and some games and matches that, well, we didn't. But in the end, we're a legitimate NCAA Tournament caliber team.” 

And while the Lakers did not qualify for the PSAC Tournament, their in-region strength of schedule afforded them entry into the national tournament and gave credence to the strength of PSAC volleyball in the Western Division. 

“One advantage of not playing in the conference playoffs last weekend is that we had time to tinker while other teams were trying to win,” said Patton. “I would have certainly traded places with them, but we used that time to work on a new lineup that will be at the same time barely noticeable to the common fan and radically different for an opponent trying to prepare for us. We hope that this can keep Lock Haven and our opponents after them guessing what we are doing.” 

For Patton, his game plans have been effectively working. This is his fifth-year at the helm and his career record now stands at 79-74, one win away from tying the second-place mark set by current Edinboro coach Missy Soboleski in her six years with the program (1999-2004). 

As for Thursday's game plan, Patton expects the winner to be the team who won the serving and passing battles. 

“If we can serve Lock Haven out-of-system, we'll make the Lady Eagles' offense more predictable.” explained Patton. “And if we pass their serves effectively we'll be able to use some wrinkles in our offense that we didn't have when we played them in October. Give us both of those and we'll be in good shape.”