Nov. 12, 2005

Box Score

Grand Valley State swept Hillsdale College 3-0 (30-24, 30-11, 30-28) in the semifinals of the GLIAC Tournament Saturday night at the GVSU Fieldhouse. The Lakers advance to the GLIAC Tournament Championship match against Northwood University on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 4:00 p.m.

GVSU trailed 6-1 to start game one, but fought back to tie the game at 12-12 and never looked back en route to the 30-24 win. The Lakers dominated game two, hitting .667 as a team and winning the game 30-11. Grand Valley trailed by as many as eight in game three (6-14), but once again came from behind to tie the game at 19-19. The two teams battled back and forth and tied it again at 25-25 before the Lakers scored the next five out of eight points to seal the 30-28 win.

Senior middle blocker Tracy Kirk recorded a match-high 13 kills, four digs, and four assisted blocks, while hitting .345. Junior outside hitter Megan Helsen added 12 kills, 10 digs, and two service aces, as she hit .440. Junior middle blocker Meghan Moore tallied 12 kills, one ace, and one assisted block.

Redshirt freshman Jamie Ashmore posted 35 assists, 12 digs, and two assisted blocks and senior Tina Tromblay added eight kills, eight digs, two service aces, one solo and one assisted block. Sophomore libero Alyson Riley recorded a team-high 21 digs and four assists.

The Lakers hit .286 as a team, while Hillsdale hit just .065. GVSU tallied six blocks and five service aces.

Sunday's match will mark the fourth straight time the Lakers have advanced to the GLIAC Tournament Championship match. Last season, GVSU fell to Ferris State and in 2003 the Lakers dropped a 3-2 decision to Northern Michigan. Grand Valley State last won the GLIAC Tournament title in 2002 win a 3-0 sweep over Gannon University.