CALIFORNIA, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst College women's volleyball team saw its season end with a 3-1 loss to Lock Haven in the first round of the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament on Thursday.
Playing in their second-straight NCAA regional tournament, the Lakers wrap-up the 2009 season with a 20-13 overall record while Lock Haven improves to 33-5 on the year.
Seeded seventh in the championship, the Lakers put a scare into perennial powerhouse LHU when they took the first set by a 25-22 count, but could not hold momentum as the second-seeded Lady Eagles powered back to take the next three sets, 25-9, 25-15, 25-21. In that final set, Mercyhurst closed a 15-7 deficit to within two points at 23-21 for a chance to force the deciding set but it would not be enough.
Rookie sensations
Chelsea Jensen and
Becky Leusch paced the Lakers offense with seven kills each while another freshman in
Gretta Freyermuth added six kills. Senior setter
Julia Butler guided the offense with 22 helpers while
Elyse Texido provided a defensive stand with 14 digs.