On Friday night in front of a packed Thomas Fieldhouse, the Lock Haven University volleyball team (1-11, 1-0 PSAC) picked up a thrilling five-set win over visiting Bloomsburg University (2-10, 0-1 PSAC), 3-2, (25-22, 19-25, 15-25, 25-13 & 15-12) in the Bald Eagles 2022 Homecoming Match. The contest also served as the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opener for both teams.
In the opening set, the Huskies took a late 22-20 lead, but the Bald Eagles responded with five straight points to take the opening set 25-22.
Bloomsburg fought back and seemed in control of the match with a 25-19 win in the second and a 25-15 win in the third set. With their back against the wall, LHU rebounded with a dominant 25-13 fourth set victory to force a decisive fifth set.
In a tight and gritty fifth set, the two sides were tied at 11-11 going into crunch time. Lock Haven rattled off four of the next five points and brought home their first win of the season on a Kelly Gaston (Centennial, Colo./Grandview) ace to the delight of The Haven faithful.
Gabriela Fialova (Ledec nad Sazavou, Czech Republic/ (Indian River)) led the way for Lock Haven both offensively and defensively as she totaled game-highs in both kills with 10 and digs with 17.
Gaston contributed a pair of game-high in aces with five and assists with 34. The sophomore setter also chipped in six kills and six digs in a well-rounded performance.
Emma Kelly (Cypress, Texas/Cypress Ranch) and Alyssa Daley (Everett, Pa./Everett) tied for second-best on the Bald Eagles and each notched nine kills on the night. McKenzie Hanna (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) added her part with eight kills as the Bald Eagles put forward a balanced offensive attack.
Defensively, libero Madison Eckley (Julian, Pa./Bald Eagle) also tallied double figures in digs with 13. Evie Jane Rembold (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) was a force in the middle for The Haven and registered a game-high five total blocks to go with seven kills.
Original source can be found here.
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