PSAC announces Preseason Volleyball Poll; Bald Eagles picked fifth

LOCK HAVEN– The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) announced the 2024 Preseason Coaches’ Polls today (Aug. 15), and the Lock Haven volleyball team was picked fifth in the PSAC Eastern Division.

Shippensburg received five of eight first-place votes and was picked by the coaches as the preseason favorite. Shepherd and East Stroudsburg checked in at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. West Chester was voted fourth, one spot ahead of Lock Haven, and No. 6 Bloomsburg, No. 7 Kutztown and No. 8 Millersville rounded out the Eastern Division preseason rankings.

In the Western Division, Gannon picked up six of eight first-place votes and was picked as the preseason favorite. Clarion was picked second and IUP rounded out the top-three in the west. No. 4 Pitt-Johnstown, No. 5 Edinboro, No. 6 Seton Hill, No. 7 Slippery Rock and No. 8 California (Pa.) rounded out the preseason picks in the Western Division.

Last season, Lock Haven finished with an 11-13 overall record, which marked a remarkable turnaround from a one-win season in 2022. The Bald Eagles went 5-9 in PSAC East play last year, and finished fourth in the PSAC East standings, which pushed The Haven into the PSAC postseason tournament for the first time since 2015.

The 11-win season marked the Bald Eagles first double-digit finish in wins since 2018.

Following the 2023 season, head coach Mike Kraft was named the PSAC East Coach of the Year and Kelly Gaston was named to the All-PSAC Team. Both return to lead the way for The Haven this fall.

Gaston directed the offense last year with 715 total assists. She also recorded 228 digs on the season.

The Bald Eagles return all of their top hitters from last season, including Evie Jane Rembold, Emma Kelly, Reagan Irons and Alyssa Daley. Rembold finished with 173 kills and recorded the top hitting-percentage on the team. Defensively, The Haven will also get a boost from Natalie Acevedo, who is one of many more key returnees.

Lock Haven will kick off the 2024 season with a pair of tournament appearances, the first of which is scheduled for September 6 – 7 at the Cedarville Invitational where the Bald Eagles will play three matches in two days.

On September 13 and 14, The Haven will travel to Indiana, Pennsylvania for the IUP Crimson Hawk Classic and play four matches in two days.

The Bald Eagles home opener will also be the PSAC Eastern Division opener as Lock Haven hosts Bloomsburg on Friday, September 27 at 6 p.m. to kick off The Haven’s 2024 Homecoming Weekend. It’s the first of seven home matches scheduled for the 2024 season.

Lock Haven’s first three PSAC East matches will all come at home in Thomas Fieldhouse vs. Bloomsburg, West Chester and Millersville, respectively. The full 2024 Lock Haven volleyball schedule is available at GoLHU.com.

1. Shippensburg (5)

2. Shepherd (1)

3. East Stroudsburg (2)

4. West Chester

6. Bloomsburg

7. Kutztown

8. Millersville

1. Gannon (6)

2. Clarion

3. IUP (2)

4. Pitt-Johnstown

5. Edinboro

6. Seton Hill

7. Slippery Rock

8. California

*(First-Place Votes)