ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley College women’s volleyball won all three of its matches over Richard Stockon (3-0), Eastern University (3-1), and McDaniel College (3-2) Saturday afternoon en route to winning the Eastern Tournament title.
With the wins LVC improved to 28-10 and set the school record for most wins in a season. The team’s previous record was recorded in 1995, when the Valley finished 27-13.
The tournament victory was the third of the season for the Valley.
The opening match saw sophomore Amanda Bahn (York, Pa./Spring Grove) serve up six aces and put away 10 kills. First-year attacker Lexi Horstman (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) also had 10 kills while first-year libero Katie Ferree (Waynesboro, Pa./Waynesboro) and junior Sherri Pursel (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern) had 16 and 12 digs apiece. Senior Steph George (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) had four blocks. First-year setter Catherine Roth (Hanover, Pa./Delone Catholic) had 38 assists.
In the second match of the day the Valley upset Eastern University, the third-ranked team in the most recent AVCA Mid-Atlantic Region Poll, in four sets. LVC dug in defensively against the Eagles as Ferree has an astounding 23 digs while Pursel and Bahn had 17 and 14 digs, respectively. Offensively, first-year middle-hitter Megan Brillhart (Hanover, Pa./New Oxford) had 17 kills. Pursel and Horstman contributed 14 kills apiece.
The final match of the day saw Lebanon Valley rally from a 2-0 deficit to overcome McDaniel College. Ferree again had a solid game defensively, amassing 20 digs. Bahn and Pursel supplied additional defense with 14 and 12 digs apiece. Brillhart spearheaded the offense once again racking up 18 kills. Horstman and Bahn added 17 and 10 kills each. Roth had 59 assists.
Ferree and Brillhart were named to the all-tournament team for their outstanding play. Ferree compiled an amazing 59 digs in three matches.
Lebanon Valley has earned the fourth seed in the upcoming Commonwealth Conference playoffs and will head to Huntingdon to take on top-seeded Juniata College on Wednesday. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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