GAMEDAY CENTRAL

FRIDAY, NOV. 15 VS. SETON HILL - 7 P.M.
FLIP CARD | LIVE STATS

SATURDAY, NOV. 16 VS. CALIFORNIA (PA.) - 7 P.M.
FLIP CARD | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO

ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon women's volleyball team close out the regular season at the Hammermill Center this weekend, as the Lady Knights host Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) opponents the Seton Hill Griffins and the California (Pa.) Vulcans. The Lady Knights open the weekend on Friday when they face the Griffins with the first serve set for 7 p.m. followed by the regular-season home finale on Saturday against the Vulcans at 7 p.m. Holding the final PSAC Western Division playoff spot, the Lady Knights only need one win or a Mercyhurst loss during the final two nights of conference play to clinch its fifth consecutive postseason bid.

LIVE VIDEO
Live video for the Lady Knights' final match of the regular season versus California (Pa.) on Saturday evening will be provided via America ONE. Click here to access the live stream.

CALLING ALL GANNON STUDENTS
On Friday, Gannon students will have an opportunity to show their Maroon and Gold spirit with a body painting and sign painting contest hosted by Gannon University Team Spirit (GUTS). In addition, students will be able to take part in the "Porky's Serve for a Slice" contest between the second and third sets. Mission: Hit the target on the floor… win a slice from Porky's.

NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS
The Lady Knights hold the ninth spot in the NCAA Atlantic Regional rankings released on Nov. 13. Among the Lady Knights' opponents this weekend, California (Pa.) is second with a 24-3 in-region record, while Seton Hill is fourth with an in-region mark of 24-6. The NCAA regional rankings are used in determining the participants of the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) champions each receive automatic bids with the top-six remaining teams in the final regional rankings earning at-large bids.


GANNON LADY KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Matt Darling (Seventh Season)
Overall Record: 17-12
PSAC Record: 12-8 (Fourth in PSAC West)
All-Time vs. Seton Hill: 8-1 (.889)
All-Time vs. California (Pa.): 14-15 (.483)

SCOUTING THE LADY KNIGHTS
Hitting Percentage: .194
Kills Per Set: 12.2
Assists Per Set: 11.3
Aces Per Set: 1.6
Digs Per Set: 17.2
Blocks Per Set: 2.0

GAME NOTES
- The Gannon Lady Knights enter the weekend on a two-game win streak at the Hammermill Center. In their previous home-weekend series on Nov. 1-2, the Lady Knights defeated Slippery Rock, 3-1, and Edinboro, 3-0, respectively.
- In recent action on Nov. 8-9, the Lady Knights split the weekend-road series with Clarion and Indiana (Pa.). The Lady Knights dropped a 3-1 decision to Clarion on Friday evening before bouncing back with a 3-1 win against Indiana (Pa.) on Saturday.
- The Lady Knights occupy the ninth spot in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional rankings released on Nov. 13.
- Gannon holds the final PSAC Western Division playoff spot entering the final weekend of conference play. With two remaining matches, the Lady Knights have a two-match lead over Mercyhurst. The Lady Knights can clinch their fifth consecutive postseason bid with a Mercyhurst loss in either match or aLady Knights' victory over Seton Hill or California (Pa.).
- As a team, the Lady Knights rank 56th in digs per set (17.19) among 274 squads in the NCAA Division II national rankings in games thru Nov. 10.
- In the NCAA Division II individual rankings, sophomore Morgan Walters (Girard, Ohio / Girard) is 40th in aces per set (0.46), sophomore Lynne Hibbard (West Barnstable, Mass. / Barnstable) ranks 43rd in blocks per set (1.06) and junior Taryn Graham (Huron, Ohio / Huron) is 59th in digs per set (4.87). 


SETON HILL GRIFFINS
Head Coach: Rick Hall (27th Season)
Overall Record: 26-8
PSAC Record: 14-6 (Third in PSAC West)

SCOUTING THE GRIFFINS
Hitting Percentage: .203
Kills Per Set: 11.6
Assists Per Set: 10.0
Aces Per Set: 1.4
Digs Per Set: 13.4
Blocks Per Set: 1.8

GAME NOTES
- Entering this season, the Lady Knights swept Seton Hill in their three previous meetings. Gannon's streak of unbeaten sets against the Griffins came to an end at nine on Oct. 26. The host Griffins flipped the tables in a sweep of the Lady Knights with set scores of 25-21, 25-21 and 25-19.
- In their first year in the PSAC, the Griffins have posted a 14-6 record in conference play. Stringing together nine straight leagues wins, the Griffins fell in their next three against Clarion, Indiana (Pa.) and California (Pa.). The weekend of Nov. 8-9, the Griffins got back on the winning track with a pair of home wins over Edinboro and Slippery Rock.
- Among the national leaders in NCAA Division II, the Griffins rank 33rd in blocks per set (2.25), 39th in winning percentage (.765) and 48th in aces per set (1.74) in games thru Nov. 10.
- Shelby Kyllo holds a spot among the nation's top-25 blockers, ranking 24th in blocks per set (1.18)
- The Lady Knights hold an 8-1 mark in the all-time series against the Griffins with their lone loss coming this season.  


CALIFORNIA (PA.) VULCANS
Head Coach: Peter LeTourneau (Third Season)
Overall Record: 26-5
PSAC Record: 19-1 (Tied for first in PSAC West)

SCOUTING THE VULCANS
Hitting Percentage: .215
Kills Per Set: 13.0
Assists Per Set: 12.2
Aces Per Set: 1.7
Digs Per Set: 17.2
Blocks Per Set: 1.8

GAME NOTES
- The California (Pa.) Vulcans enter the weekend on a three-game win streak after stumbling against co-PSAC Western Division leader Clarion in five sets at home on Nov. 1. Prior to the loss to Clarion, the Vulcans captured victories in 10 consecutive matches including a close 3-2 win over the visiting Lady Knights on Oct. 25.
- In the NCAA Division II national rankings, the Vulcans rank 22nd in winning percentage (.839). Among the 274 teams ranked nationally, the Vulcans are 51st in aces per set (1.74), 56th in assists per set (12.14), 55th in digs per set (17.23), 57th in hitting percentage (.214), and 56th in kills per set (12.98).
- Laurel Miller ranks 38th in points per set (4.21) among national leaders, while also occupying 50th in kills per set (3.64). Miller is third among the PSAC leaders in each category.
- The Vulcans hold a 15-14 lead in the all-time series, defeating the Lady Knights in five of their last six meetings including a pair of postseason wins in the 2012 NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional and 2011 PSAC Tournament.