Women's volleyball upset Fighting Scots, advances to second round of playoffs
By Bill Kostkas
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Sports
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They weren't even set to make the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference playoffs and needed to beat rival Clarion University of Pennsylvania to make the postseason.
The Rock beat Clarion to make the PSAC playoffs, but were subsequently knocked out by California University of Pennsylvania. After a wild end of the season, the Rock is now set to go the Atlantic Regional tournament for the fourth consecutive season.
The Rock's first round match will be against a team they are familiar with, third-seeded Edinboro University (26-8 overall, 10-2 PSAC West) at California, Pa. The Fighting Scots came out victorious against the Rock in their two previous meetings, both 3-1 decisions.
The latter of the two meetings took place on Oct. 25. Both of Edinboro's PSAC-West losses were to nationally ranked Cal.
Rock head coach Laurie Lokash is not worried about her team folding in the postseason.
"I don't think there can be any pressure," Lokash said. "It's just another match. You start putting pressure on yourself if you start thinking about the playoffs."
The berth will mean Rock seniors (outside hitter) Anastasia Urbanik, (defensive specialist) Courtney Fajerski and (outside hitter) Jen Blasko are the school's first volleyball players to play in the NCAA Atlantic Regional tournament in all four years of their eligibility.
Urbanik and Blasko also received All-PSAC West honors on Wednesday, a decision made by votes from coaches throughout the division.
Urbanik received her third top honor in four years, last year's being a second team honor. Blasko earned the third straight second team honor of her collegiate career.
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