Sept. 20, 2008

Box Score

Allendale, Mich. - #8 Grand Valley State had to come from behind to knock off the visiting Northern Michigan Wildcats on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 20) at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. After dropping the opening two sets to NMU, the Lakers closed the match with three consecutive wins to tally a 3-2 victory (20-25, 21-25, 25-20, 26-24, 15-8). With the win, Grand Valley State improves to 12-2 overall, 5-0 in the GLIAC. Northern Michigan falls to 8-6, 3-2 in league play.

Both teams enjoyed five-set victories on Friday night, with the Lakers outlasting Michigan Tech, 3-2, and NMU earning a similar win at Ferris State.

The victory keeps Grand Valley State's home win streak alive, as the Lakers have now won 25 consecutive matches at Fieldhouse Arena, dating back to Oct. 7, 2006.

Northern Michigan jumped ahead early in the first set, leading 16-8 after a kill by senior Caryn VanBeckum. It was one of her match-high 17 kills. The Lakers would cut the lead to three points at 23-20, but the Wildcats tallied the final two points to take a 1-0 lead.

The second set was close throughout the match, as NMU took its' biggest lead at 19-14 after a service ace from Rachel Green. GVSU battled back to within two points on a few occasions before a VanBeckum kill and a Laker attack error closed out the set.

Grand Valley State responded well in the third set, taking an early 7-1 advantage. Northern Michigan then went on a 9-3 run to tie the set at 10-10. The teams would play back-and-forth again until NMU took a 19-17 lead. Strong serving from junior Katey Crichton pushed GVSU back on top, 22-19, with five straight points. The Lakers would go on to close out the set, 25-20.

The fourth set gave Grand Valley State all the momentum it would need, although the Lakers almost didn't make it to a fifth set. Northern Michigan held leads of 18-11 and 20-16 before GVSU rallied. Trailing 23-18, the Lakers scored four of the next five points to make the score, 24-22. They fought off NMU's match point on a kill from junior Whitney Tremain. Tremain then served the next three points, including kills from senior Jamie Ashmore and junior Meredith Young to win the set, 26-24.

On GVSU volleyball alumni day, the former players and all in attendance helped keep the Lakers' spirits high and Grand Valley State had all the momentum heading into the fifth set. Tied 6-6, the Lakers scored four of the next six points to lead 10-8. Ashmore closed the set and match with five straight points, ending on a kill from senior Lauren Reber, assisted by Ashmore.

Neither team hit well on Saturday, as the Lakers managed a .180 hitting percentage and Northern Michigan connected at a .140 clip. GVSU, however, used a .391 percentage to win the pivotal fifth set. The Lakers totaled more kills (67-52), assists (55-46), and digs (91-84) than NMU. Grand Valley State avoided trouble even with 32 attack errors and 11 service errors.

Reber and fellow senior Danielle Alexander totaled team-highs of 14 kills. Reber connected at a .306 attack percentage and added 20 digs. Sophomore Rebeccah Rapin and junior Kaity Gormley each notched 10 kills. Young tallied a match-high 24 digs, while Ashmore paced the Lakers with 41 assists, 14 digs, and six kills.

After a 3-0 week at home, Grand Valley State heads on the road for matches against Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State next weekend. The Lakers will battle SVSU next Friday (Sept. 26) at 7:00 p.m.