For the second time in three seasons, the Lancaster Bible College women's volleyball team will host the NCCAA East Region Playoffs. Two years ago, the Chargers defeated Philadelphia Biblical, 3-0 in the East Region Final for their first East Region title since 1989. LBC will look to repeat its 2010 effort after falling in the semi-finals last season. Below is a preview of both of the semi-final matches as well as other facts and figures and the writer's picks as to what will transpire on Friday night.

#4 Valley Forge Christian vs. #1 Lancaster Bible - 2:30 p.m.

Valley Forge Record: 3-21, 0-3 East Region
Lancaster Bible: 15-17, 3-0 East Region
Regular Season Match: Lancaster Bible 3, Valley Forge Christian 0 (25-14, 25-9, 25-17)

The Skinny on Valley Forge Christian: Amanda Compton's 161 kills account for almost half of the Patriots' team kills (331)...No one else on the roster has more than 45 kills...The Patriots play solid defense, but errors, both hitting and service, usually haunt Valley Forge Christian.

The Way the Patriots Keep This Match Interesting: If they can limit their errors and surprise the Chargers in the opening set, who knows what can happen...Valley Forge Christian will need to play their best match of the season.

The Skinny on Lancaster Bible: The Lauren's, Heliger and Daniels, power the LBC attack as they have combined for 729 of the Chargers' 1,209 kills this season...Both are large contributors on the defensive side as well...Heliger leads the team with 553 digs, while Daniels has 362...LBC's freshmen have found their footing as well, as setter, Hannah Metzler, middle blocker, Joanna Butala and outside hitter, Grace Scheuerman have each carved out a niche on the squad...LBC is not afraid of long matches as they have played seven five-set matches so far this season.

Why the Chargers Won't Overlook Valley Forge Christian: Head Coach Lauren Bewley never lets the Chargers look past an opponent and with Baptist Bible and Cairn arriving to the gym during the first match, LBC will want to make sure they don't get any confidence seeing the Chargers struggle with the Patriots.

The Pick: Lancaster Bible 3, Valley Forge Christian 0 - LBC is too strong and if the offense isn't there, the defense always is...Small chance the Patriots make it interesting in the first set, but more than likely, the Chargers cruise to a three-set win and a berth in the East Region Final.


#3 Cairn vs. #2 Baptist Bible - 4:30 p.m.

Cairn Record: 18-10, 1-2 East Region
Baptist Bible Record: 21-9, 2-1 East Region
Regular Season Match: Baptist Bible 3, Cairn 1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-18, 26-24)

The Skinny on Cairn: The Highlanders have won three straight matches since losing to Baptist Bible on October 17...Cairn sports a balanced offensive attack as Brigid Shehan, Abbie Keating and Emily Mayer all have over 200 kills...Cairn limits its errors offensively and uses a tough defensive make-up to stay in matches...The Highlanders lost tight matches to both Baptist Bible and Lancaster Bible this season.

Why Cairn Might be the Best Team in the East Region: The Highlanders played one of the toughest schedules around this season as they faced some of the top teams in the NCCAA and NCAA Division III and still enter Friday's match with an 18-10 record...Balance, Balance, Balance...Cairn gets contributions from just about everyone and will be a tough out.

The Skinny on Baptist Bible: The Defenders sport the best record of the four teams as they have won 21 games, including 13 of their last 14...Jessica White leads the Defenders with 315 kills and 378 digs, as well as 59 blocks...They too have a lot of balance and sport four players with over 300 digs...You could argue the Defenders were playing their worst volleyball of the season when they lost to LBC on Sept. 19....They were in the midst of a 1-5 streak and now they have lost just once in October and appear ready to go on Friday.

Why Baptist Bible Could be and Should be Motivated to Win: They quite possibly have the best team in the East Region and need to prove that...They won a close match against Cairn and want to prove that wasn't a fluke and should they get another crack at LBC, they will want to show that Sept. 19 was an anomaly, and they are the class of the East Region.

The Pick: Cairn 3, Baptist Bible 2 - These two teams played just over a week ago and looking at the scores it could have very easily gone in Cairn's favor and they actually won the first set, before falling, 3-1...All of the sets were fairly close and with Cairn's experience in the NCCAA playoffs, I say experience wins.


East Region Final - 7:00 p.m.

So if the chips fall as I have predicted, we will once again be treated with a Cairn-Lancaster Bible East Region Final. The Chargers won this matchup in 2010, but Cairn (then PBU) won last year in the semi-finals. The Chargers won the regular season match, 3-2, taking the fifth set, 15-10. The match was played at Valley Forge Christian, so neither team has been in the other's gym this season. 

The Pick: [Homer alert! Homer alert!] Lancaster Bible 3, Cairn 2 - Hey why not have a thrilling five-setter to see who goes to the NCCAA National Tournament. Charger Nation will be rocking, might as well treat them to something special.

LBC has won just three East Region titles (1987, 1989, 2010), while Cairn could fill a small car with all of the banners they have won. Being able to spend time around the LBC team a good amount this season, there is something about this team that doesn't quit, even when it looks bleak. They don't have the best overall record in the East Region, but the team has gone through a lot this season and will definitely be tough to beat on their home floor. Charger Nation will be ready, let's bring it home.