Pitt-Johnstown Captures PSAC Volleyball Title Saturday, November 23, 2013 9:31 AM TICKETS FACILITY INFORMATION CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY $7 per day adult/ $2 student Heiges Field House 2013 Statistics Year-by-Year PSAC Champions Free - PSAC Students w/ ID Directions Standings PSAC Records 2013 Schedule/Results Postseason Award History Printable Rosters UPJ WINS PSAC TITLE Courtesy of UPJ Sports Information Shippensburg, Pa. – Pitt-Johnstown clinched the PSAC Volleyball Championship title with a 3-2 thriller against California on Saturday afternoon at Heiges Field House at Shippensburg University. After losing the first set, 20-25, Pitt-Johnstown bounced back with 25-23 and 25-16 wins in sets two and three, before falling in set four with a losing score of 9-25. The Lady Cats were able to answer with a 15-12 win in set five and seal the championship title. Kelsey Shanabrook finished with 14 kills and 19 digs, while Beth Kendera had 10 kills. Katie Svetahor also tallied 22 digs, and Allison Mondorff collected 48 assists. Marissa Erminio, the PSAC East Freshman of the Year, was named the Championships' Most Valuable Player after delivering 57 kills in the championship, including 23 against the Vulcans. She also sprawled for 17 digs in the PSAC title game. California was led by Laurel Millers' 15 kills and Molly Delaney's 22 terminations. Miller also notched 21 digs and seven service aces, while Delaney charted 10 digs. With the Championship title, Pitt-Johnstown now earns an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship. The NCAA selection show will air on Monday, November 25, at 7:30 p.m. The title crown marks the first time the Eastern Division has won the PSAC Championship since Millersville won in 1995. Box Score California Story UPJ Story PSAC SEMIFINALS UPJ to Play for PSAC Title Shippensburg, Pa. – Pitt-Johnstown defeated Gannon 3-1 in the PSAC Volleyball Semifinals on Friday night at Heiges Field House on the campus of Shippensburg University. The Lady Cats will play California at 2:00 p.m. for the PSAC title on Saturday, November 23. PSAC East Freshman of the Year Marissa Erminio led the Mountain Cats with 17 kills and 11 digs. Beth Kendera contributed 10 kills and five total blocks, while Kelsey Shanabrook notched nine terminations and sprawled for 13 digs. For the first time, the PSAC Volleyball Championship match will be broadcast live on PCN. The students of Shippensburg University Television (SUTV) will handle the broadcast of the championship. Box Score UPJ Story Gannon Story CAL Defeats SHIP for Chance at PSAC Crown Shippensburg, Pa. – California downed PSAC Volleyball Championship host Shippensburg 3-1 on Friday night at Heiges Field House. The Vulcans will play Pitt-Johnstown at 2:00 p.m. for the PSAC title on Saturday, November 23. California was led by Laurel Miller's 16 kills accompanied by her 15 digs. Molly Delaney pitched-in 11 terminations, while Samantha Rudy recorded a match-high 21 digs. For the first time, the PSAC Volleyball Championship match will be broadcast live on PCN. The students of Shippensburg University Television (SUTV) will handle the broadcast of the championship. Box Score Shippensburg Story California Story PSAC VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSIHP PREVIEW Shippensburg, Pa. – Shippensburg is set to host the PSAC Volleyball Semifinals and Championship game this Friday and Saturday at Heiges Field House. At 5:00 p.m. on Friday No. 2-seed Pitt-Johnstown from the Eastern Division will face No. 4-seed Gannon of the West. Gannon has turned up the heat in the latter part of the season, as the Lady Knights are on a four-match win streak, and have won six of their last eight contests. During the streak, Gannon defeated PSAC Championship tournament participants Seton Hill and California, followed by a 3-1 upset of No. 1 seed Clarion in the Quarterfinals. The defending PSAC Champions will rely on PSAC West Freshman of the Year Hannah Kren, who has registered 20+ kills in Gannon's last three outings. Pitt-Johnstown hosted its first PSAC Championship event on Tuesday night as the Lady Cats swept Lock Haven 3-0 in the Quarterfinals to mark the institution's first PSAC playoff victory. Pitt-Johnstown notched four spots on the 2013 All-PSAC Eastern Division First and Second Teams, with Beth Kendera, Marissa Erminio, and Allison Mondorff taking First Team honors and Kelsey Shanabrook earning a spot on the Second Team. Erminio was named the PSAC East Freshman of the Year, as she leads the team with 3.63 kills per set and contributes 2.73 digs per set. In mid-October, Gannon defeated Pitt-Johnstown on the road 3-2. Prior to their PSAC Crossover meeting this season, the two teams have not met since Gannon defeated UPJ 3-0 in 2011 and 2010. No. 1-seed Shippensburg from the Eastern Division will take on No. 2-seed California in the 7:30 p.m. Semifinal. Shippensburg is making its sixth PSAC Semifinal appearance under head coach Leanne Piscotty, while seeking the program's first PSAC title. The Raiders are led by Jill Edwards' league-high 4.26 kills per set and 3.14 digs per set. Edwards, the 2013 PSAC East Athlete of the Year, is just the second player in conference history to surpass 2,000 kills in a career. California has made the PSAC Championship tournament in each of the last nine years, while advancing to the title game six times. The Vulcans are looking to earn the school's eighth PSAC crown and its first since 2011. The Vulcans won three-straight conference titles from 2007-10. California has two hitters that rank in the conference's top-10 in kills. Laurel Miller is third with 3.68 kills per set and Molly Delaney is 10th with 2.93 kills per set. Earlier this season, California handed Shippensburg a 3-1 loss and previously ended the Raiders' 2012 season in the NCAA Championship tournament with a 3-1 win. In the 2012 regular season, Shippensburg defeated California 3-1, marking the first win for the Raiders against California since 1996. Shippensburg had been winless against California from 1999-2012. The Semifinal victors will play for the conference championship at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. For the first time, the PSAC Volleyball Championship match will be broadcast live on PCN. The students of Shippensburg University Television (SUTV) will handle the broadcast of the championship. PSAC QUARTERFINALS Shippensburg Defeats Millersville Shippensburg, Pa – No. 1-seed Shippensburg downed Millersville 3-0 in the PSAC Volleyball Championship Quarterfinals on Tuesday night in Shippensburg. Set scores were 25-19, 25-17, and 25-22. With the win, Shippensburg earned the right to host the semifinals and title game on November 22-23. Senior Jill Edwards led the Raiders with 13 kills and 12 digs, while setter Maura Nolan contributed 32 assists. Middle blocker Faith Athey recorded five block assists and a solo block. Shippensburg is set to play the West's No. 2-seed California on Friday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. in the Semifinals. Box Score Shippensburg Story Millersville Story California Downs Seton Hill California, Pa. – California defeated Seton Hill 3-0 at the Convocation Center on Tuesday night in the PSAC Volleyball Championship Quarterfinals. Set scores were 25-14, 25-20, and 25-16. California was led offensively by Laurel Miller's 16 kills and Miranda Fouzie's 10 terminations. Samantha Rudy sprawled for a team-high 18 digs, while Abbey Freund dug-out 13 attacks. With the win, the Vulcans will travel to play Shippensburg in the Semifinals on Friday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. Box Score California Story Seton Hill Story Pitt-Johnstown Earns First-Ever PSAC Postseason Victory Johnstown, Pa. – Pitt-Johnstown not only hosted its first PSAC Championship event, but the volleyball team earned the school's first PSAC postseason victory with a 3-0 sweep of Lock Haven in Johnstown on Tuesday night. Set scores were 25-19, 26-24, and 25-22. The Lady Cats had three attackers hit double-digits in kills led by Marissa Erminio's 17 kills. Beth Kendra added 10 kills on a .304 attack percentage, while Kelsey Shanabrook notched 11 terminations and a team-high 20 digs. With the victory over the Lady Eagles, UPJ will advance to play Gannon in the PSAC Semifinals on the campus of Shippensburg at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 22. Box Score Pitt-Johnstown Story Lock Haven Story Gannon Upsets Clarion Clarion, Pa. – No. 4-seed Gannon upset No. 1-seed Clarion 3-1 in Tippin Gym on Tuesday night in the PSAC Volleyball Championship Quarterfinals. Gannon lost set one but responded with three straight set victories to earn a trip to the PSAC Semifinals. Set scores were 18-25, 25-21, 25-22, and 25-20. The Lady Knights' freshman Hannah Kren totaled 22 kills and 12 digs, while Jordyn Thiery registered 16 terminations and 14 digs. Taryn Graham led Gannon with 31 digs, while Megan Wendel sprawled for 10 and assisted 47 kills. Thanks to the upset, Gannon will travel to Shippensburg for a semifinal match against Pitt-Johnstown on Friday, November 22 at 5:00 p.m. Box Score Gannon Story Clarion Story PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE AIRED LIVE ON PCN Lock Haven, Pa - The PSAC Volleyball Championship game will be aired live on PCN-TV. The location of the semifinals and finals will be determined following the quarterfinal round. The highest remaining seed of the Eastern Division will serve as host for the semifinals and champinoship game. The title game will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, and will be aired live on PCN-TV. Please click here to determine the channel designation of PCN-TV in your area. In addition to watch the game on television, fans can stream the game online. Click here for more information. The PCN Mobile App is also available for download so fans can watch the game live via their mobile device. The app is available on the App Store and Play Store. After subscribing for a one day or yearly subscription to PCN on pcntv.com, the PCN Mobile App is then available for download an fans can have access to PCN anytime, anywhere. The Volleyball Championship will re-air on Wednesday, November 27, following the re-air of the PSAC Football Championship at 6:00 p.m. Remember to follow PSAC on Twitter (@PSACsports) and use #PSACfb to show your support and also "like" the PSAC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PSACsports.