The Clarion University women’s volleyball team has qualified for the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Playoffs for the second straight year. The Golden Eagles will take on Lees-McRae in the first round at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lock Haven University. Lees-McRae beat Clarion 3-2 in last season’s first round.

"Getting back to the regional tournament is exciting," Clarion’s third-year head coach Tracey Fluharty said. "The team has worked so hard to get there. It is a great opportunity for the seniors to end their careers on a positive note as well as a great opportunity for all of our players."

The Golden Eagles (26-9) are the fourth seed after finishing fourth in the PSAC-West this season. Lees-McRae (30-11) is the fifth seed after winning the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference tournament. Last season, Clarion led 2-1 in playoff game only to watch the Bobcats win the last two matches to take the win.

"I think last year’s experience will mean a lot," Fluharty said. "Last year we didn’t know what to expect. Know we know what to expect. I also don’t think there will be as much pressure on us this year. We come into the tournament with a few more loses. I think we will go in a little bit more relaxed.

"Also we are excited to be playing Lees-McRae again. It gives us a chance for some payback. Plus I think it is an advantage for us to be playing a team we haven’t played this year. Even though we don’t know what to expect from them, that could help us because we won’t think about it as much. We will just go out and play our game."

Clarion started the season strong and were 23-5 at one points. But the Golden Eagles struggled down the stretch losing four of their final seven matches and leaving the NCAA playoff berth up in the air. Fluharty, however, thinks having the last week off might help Clarion’s chances in the playoffs.

"We started the season off strong," Fluharty said. "Towards the end we didn’t play as well. But I think having last week off helped us. We just played some pick-up ball while we waited to see if we got into the NCAA’s. We were abl to relax some and just some conditioning things. I think the time off and all took some of the pressure off. We will now go back to practice this week and hopefully get ready for Thursday." The Golden Eagles are led by three seniors - Jackie Hill, Melanie Bull and Laurie Hepler - who have had stellar four-year careers. The four have combined to help Clarion go 98-50 (.662) over the last four season including 57-14 (.803) the last two years with the school’s first two NCAA Division II Playoff berths.

"They really have provided a lot of leadership," Fluharty said. "Not only do they provide leadership off the court, they also provide stability on the court."

Hill is Clarion’s setter and the person in control of the offense, according to Fluharty. She has had a solid season with 1,388 set assists (11.97 per game), 367 digs (3.16 per game), 75 kills and 45 service aces. She is the school record holder in career assists with 5,809.

Bull, an outside hitter, has also had a very good season and broke her own school record for kills in a season this year with 577 (4.85). She also leads the team with 515 digs while adding 46 service aces and 58 blocks. Bull is Clarion’s career leader in both kills (1,919) and digs (1,992).

Hepler, who moved from libero to defensive specialist this year, has had a solid campaign with 439 digs (3.82 per game) and 27 service aces.

In addition to the seniors, Clarion has also gotten key contributions from juniors Colleen Sherk and Sara Heyl as well as sophomores Karen Stoklosa, Ashley Kreiner and Heather Byrne.

Sherk, a middle hitter, is second on the team with 424 kills (3.56 per game) and blocks with 156 (1.31 per game), while adding 109 digs. Heyl, an outside hitter, is third on the team with 244 kills (2.05 per game) and fourth in digs with 395 (3.32 per game). She has added 33 service aces and 98 blocks.

Stoklosa, a middle hitter, leads the team with 168 (1.41 per game) blocks while adding 231 kills (1.94 per game) and a team-high 49 service aces. Kreiner, the libero, is second on the team with 513 digs (4.42 per game), while Byrne, an outside hitter, has added 110kills. 62 digs and 18 blocks.

Clarion has had to overcome some adversity this year losing junior outside hitter Tonya Zatko to injury midway through the year. Zatko finished with 64 kills (2.37 per game), 17 digs and nine blocks.

Tatiana Moore, the CVAC Player of the Year, leads Lees-McRae with 379 kills (3.2 per game) and 438 digs (3.5). Lacie Smith, a second team CVAC choice, is adding 374 (3.2 kills per game), while Lenka Jamrichova, a first-team CVAC selection, has 1,495 assists (11.9) and 391 digs (3.1). All Lees-McRae statistics are through Nov. 9.

NOTES - Last season Clarion finished 31-5 overall setting a school record for wins in the process.