WHEELING W.Va. – Gannon saw it's stellar 2016 season come to an end on Saturday, Dec. 3, in the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament in Wheeling, W.Va. The Lady Knights were defeated by Edinboro in three sets, 25-22, 25-22, 25-22.
It was a season for the record books in terms of what the Lady Knights accomplished. It was the eighth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, as the Lady Knights earned the Atlantic region's No.2-seed. Gannon won the 2016 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Northwest Division and was named the conference regular-season champions. In the PSAC tournament, the Lady Knights didn't lose a single set enroot to their second PSAC championship in the last five years.
Gannon finished its season at 31-4, the most wins since 1992 when the Lady Knights went 40-2 and reached the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. The 31 wins also represent the fourth-most by a team in program history.
Saturday's NCAA tournament game was the third time Gannon and Edinboro have seen each other this season. Gannon won both of the regular season matches between the two schools.
In set one Edinboro clung to a 20-19 lead before three straight points from the Fighting Scots gave them some breathing room at 23-19. Two
Jordyn Thiery (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley) kills tried to get the Lady Knights back to even but Edinboro hung on, 25-22.
The Lady Knights were hanging around in set two, tied at 20, when two Gannon miscues gave EU a 22-20 lead. Gannon scored two of the next three points to pull within one at 23-22, but the Fighting Scots tallied the last two points and won the set, 25-22.
Edinboro jumped out to an 18-7 lead in set three before Gannon went on a massive 14-3 run to tie the set at 21. Edinboro responded with the next three points, killing the rally and ultimately taking the set, 25-22.
Kelsey Ansec (Solon, Ohio /Solon) led the Lady Knights with 11 kills.
Carolyn Knollman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy) was the team-leader in both assists (29) and digs (16).
Edinboro improves to 25-8 and advances to the third round of the NCAA tournament against Wheeling Jesuit on Sunday, Dec. 3.
Gannon has four seniors who played in their last matches,
Lauren Beck (Chardon, Ohio/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin),
Lisa Gropler (St. Louis, Mo./Visitation Academy),
Hannah Kren (Waukesha, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) and
Jordyn Thiery (Cincinnati, Ohio/McAuley).
