The quest for a PSAC-West playoff spot for the Clarion University women’s volleyball team starts Tuesday when the Golden Eagles open PSAC-West play at 7 p.m. at California.

Clarion, which is off to a school-best start, enters PSAC-West play sporting a perfect 8-0 record. The Golden Eagles have yet to lose a set in 2002 having gone a combined 24-0 in the eight matches.

"We are playing extremely well," first-year head coach Tracey Fluharty said. "A lot of different people are picking it up and playing different roles. They are all playing specific roles which is contributing to our success."

California enters the contest at 5-3 on the season. Last season Clarion was 2-1 against California including 1-1 in PSAC-West play.

"We had a good, long practice Sunday night preparing for California," Fluharty said. "The players are mentally ready to play. I think the game will be a test. It should give us a good idea of where we stand in the conference. We have to have the determination to win and not assume that we will win. We have to believe we can win. I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be ready to play the game."

A host of Golden Eagles are off to quick starts including senior middle hitter Beth Stalder, junior outside hitter Melanie Bull, junior setter Jackie Hill, junior libero Laurie Hepler, sophomore outside hitter Tonya Zatko, sophomore middle hitter Colleen Sherk and sophomore outside hitter Sara Heyl.

Stalder has produced a strong all-around game with 68 kills, 21 digs and 23 blocks.

Bull leads Clarion with 91 kills and is second in digs with 99, while Hill sets the offense up with 282 set assists. Early in the season, Hill set Clarion’s all-time set assist record. She now has 3,242.

Hepler has been a key defensive player for the Golden Eagles and leads the team with 104 digs, while Zatko has been a steady offensive player with 69 kills and has added 28 blocks.

Sherk is adding 53 kills and a team-leading 41 blocks, and Heyl has chipped in with 55 kills and 42 digs.

California, which hasn’t played since Sept. 7, is led by Dingding Lu (113 kills, 52 digs, 30 blocks), Katie Barker (80 kills, 78 digs) and Allia Caresani (303 set assists).

Clarion is coming off a 23-16 season and a 3-7 mark in the PSAC-West. The 23 wins were the most for Clarion since the 1992 season.

NOTES: Clarion is on the road again Saturday at IUP before returning home to open its home slate Sept. 24 against Lock Haven ... The Golden Eagles will be hosting the Holiday Inn/Clarion Classic Oct. 4-5. The six-team tournament will include Clarion, Lees-McRae, Concordia (NY), Slippery Rock, Shippensburg and Wheeling Jesuit.

By Chris Rossetti