Sept. 19, 2008

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Allendale, Mich. - The #8 Grand Valley State Lakers won early and held on just enough to win late, as they defeated GLIAC North Division rival Michigan Tech on Friday night. GVSU knocked off the Huskies, 3-2 (25-21, 25-15, 20-25, 21-25, 15-9) for its eighth win in a row. The victory puts the Lakers at 11-2 overall, 4-0 in the GLIAC, while MTU falls to 7-5 overall, 2-2 in league play.

It looked as if Grand Valley State would have smooth sailing to a three-set victory after taking the first two sets, 25-21 and 25-15. However, Michigan Tech rebounded to win the next two sets before GVSU took control early in the pivotal fifth set and earn the victory.

The win is Grand Valley State's 24th consecutive win at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena, as the Lakers have not lost at home since Oct. 7, 2006 against Hillsdale. The school record is 30 straight home victories, set in 2000-01.

Head coach Deanne Scanlon is now 25-7 against the Huskies in her career.

Michigan Tech led for the first half of the opening set, taking a 16-12 lead over the Lakers. GVSU rebounded behind the strong serving of junior Meredith Young to score six straight points and the 18-16 advantage. Although the Huskies would cut the score to one point at 18-17, GVSU used a 7-4 run to close out the set.

The Lakers jumped out to a commanding 10-2 lead and MTU was unable to recover. Michigan Tech would only get as close as 22-15 before GVSU notched the final three points.

In the third set, MTU ran off seven straight points after the score was tied 11-11. The Lakers would recover and cut the lead to 22-20, but Michigan Tech scored the final three points to push the match to a fourth set. It was the first set GVSU lost at home in the 2008 season.

Set four was back-and-forth and the two teams were knotted at 16-16. Neither team was able to put together much of a run at that point, but the Huskies scored nine of the next 14 points to force the fifth set.

Whatever momentum Michigan Tech after winning the third and fourth sets disappeared in the opening moments of the fifth set. Behind the serving of senior setter Jamie Ashmore, GVSU raced out to a 6-0 lead that it would not relinquish. The Huskies would cut the lead to five points on a few occasions, but an MTU service error ended the set and match in favor of the Lakers.

Grand Valley State is 2-1 in five-set matches, having also defeated North Alabama on Aug. 30.

For the match, the Lakers hit .190 as a team, including a .292 effort in the second set. Michigan Tech connected at a .154 clip, using a .324 percentage and a .265 mark to win the third and fourth sets, respectively.

Senior Danielle Alexander tied for the match-high with 14 kills, seven digs, and three block assists. Junior Kaity Gormley added 12 kills and a match-best .357 hitting percentage. Ashmore totaled match-highs with 41 assists and 23 digs.

Defensively, the Lakers tallied 78 digs and 11 total team blocks. Senior Lauren Reber notched 17 digs, nine kills, and three block assists. Junior Whitney Tremain added eight kills, a pair of block solos, and six block assists.

Grand Valley State returns to the floor on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 20) against Northern Michigan at 4:00 p.m.