Box Score

ERIE, Pa.- The Mercyhurst volleyball team lost at Gannon in a first-round Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament match Tuesday night. The Lady Knights won by scores of 25-18, 25-21, and 26-24, at the Hammermill Center.
 
GU won the first game, but the second set was a dramatic one, with both teams doing everything they could to compile points for their side. Nicole Texido got the Lakers rolling with a series of serves that resulted in an 8-3 advantage. Becky Leusch had two kills in the spurt. Kills by Amanda Balasko and Camille Alvarez put the visitors ahead 13-10. The Knights answered, however, eventually taking a four-point decision.
 
Mercyhurst went up early in the third frame as well, with two Becky Smith kills putting the Lakers up 6-1. Two kills by Alvarez extended the lead to 17-12 later in the game. Leusch posted a kill to make it 23-18, but Gannon responded with a run to get back in the contest. The hosts would go on to take a tense two-point set.
 
In the match, Alvarez led with nine kills, while Leusch and Balasko each had eight. Kelly Vitt and Kiera Rebert combined for 30 assists and Balasko led with 14 digs. Lauren Sazama paced GU with 14 kills and 10 digs.
 
Gannon will now host the PSAC Final Four this weekend.
 
Meanwhile, the Lakers dropped to 25-10 in 2012. They will now await the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, November 18, at 10 p.m. The top eight teams in the Atlantic Region qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The Lakers were tabbed seventh in the last regional rankings, released November 7.