Oct. 10, 2008

Box Score

Tiffin, Ohio - In the first-ever meeting between the schools, #7 Grand Valley State dominated Tiffin on Friday night (Oct. 10) in Tiffin, Ohio. The Lakers swept the Dragons, 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-20) for their 14th consecutive victory, while improving to 17-2 overall and a perfect 10-0 in the GLIAC. Tiffin, which entered the GLIAC this season, falls to 10-10 overall, 1-9 in conference play.

From the first point of the first set, the Lakers were ready to play. Grand Valley State recorded a 25-12 opening set victory by tallying 14 kills and zero errors in 18 total attacks for an astonishing .778 hitting percentage. GVSU also held Tiffin to a .038 attack clip in the opening set. The Lakers have not lost a match this season in which they won the opening set.

Grand Valley State's defense was just as impressive in the second set, holding the Dragons to a .045 hitting percentage and only five kills. Offensively, the Lakers hit .263 with eight kills to win the set, 25-17.

Tiffin put forth its' best performance in the third set, hitting .345, but GVSU recorded 13 kills and a .290 attack percentage to close out the match.

Grand Valley State hit .412 for the match with 35 kills and only seven errors, while holding Tiffin to a .156 attack percentage. The .412 hitting percentage for GVSU is their best single-match total of the season. The Lakers' previous best was a .404 attack mark against West Florida on Sept. 6.

Nine different Lakers tallied at least one kill, led by sophomore Rebeccah Rapin, who totaled a match-high seven kills, zero errors, and a .700 hitting percentage. She was one of three Lakers to notch three block assists, as junior Katey Crichton and freshman Nicole Whiddon also were strong at the net. Overall, Grand Valley State recorded three block solos and 16 block assists for 11.0 total team blocks.

Senior Lauren Reber added six kills, no errors, a .667 hitting percentage, and six digs. Junior Kaity Gormley also contributed six kills. Senior setter Jamie Ashmore dished 24 assists and totaled four of GVSU's seven service aces.

The Lakers complete their brief tour of Ohio with a 2:00 p.m. match at Ashland on Saturday (Oct. 11). In each of the past two seasons, GVSU and Ashland have battled in five-set thrillers, with the Lakers coming out victorious in both meetings.