Oct. 3, 2009

Box Score

Findlay, Ohio - Grand Valley State bounced back from a four-set loss on Friday night to sweep a three-set contest at Findlay on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 3) over the Oilers. The Lakers bounced UF, 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-20) for their fifth win in their last seven matches. GVSU hit .354 in the match, its second highest attack percentage of the season.

With the win, Grand Valley State improves to 10-7 overall with a 6-3 GLIAC mark. Findlay falls to 5-12 with a 2-7 record in league play. On Friday night, the Oilers knocked off co-North Division leader Ferris State in five sets. However, GVSU quickly put thoughts of a second straight upset to rest.

The Lakers did not hit lower than .273 in any of the three sets and finished with a .354 attack clip and 46 kills. Grand Valley State has only hit better one other time this season, as it notched a .372 hitting percentage against Lake Superior State on Sept. 25.

In an opening first set that was back and forth throughout, the Lakers started to slowly pull away around mid-set. With the score tied at 16-16, GVSU extended the score to 23-18 off of a kill and service ace from senior outside hitter Whitney Tremain. Findlay rallied to cut the lead to 24-23 before a kill from junior middle blocker Rebeccah Rapin finished the set with a 25-23 victory.

Leading 11-10 in the second set, Grand Valley State pushed the score out to 17-12 and held a multi-point lead the rest of the set. The Oilers cut the score to 23-21 before GVSU finished the set with consecutive kills from Rapin and Tremain. In the second set, the Lakers hit a sparkling .417 with 19 kills.

The early part of the third set was also close, with GVSU leading 12-11 before opening up the scoreboard. With freshman setter Olivia Kohler serving, the Lakers scored five straight points and opened up a 17-11 lead, which would later be pushed to 24-14 on the strong serving of junior setter Meghan Scanlon. Findlay would make the score close at 24-20, but GVSU finished the set and match on a UF hitting error. The Lakers forced Findlay into a .023 hitting percentage in the final set with 11 errors.

For the second straight day, Tremain paced the Laker offense. The reigning GLIAC North Division Player of the Week, Tremain recorded a match-high 12 kills, while hitting .333 with five digs and four blocks. Senior Katey Crichton continued her errorless weekend, as she notched a season-high nine kills in 15 attempts for a .600 attack clip. On Friday night against Hillsdale, Crichton recorded eight kills without committing an error.

Freshman middle blocker Ashley Blaszczak also added a career-high nine kills, while supplying three blocks. Rapin hit .467 for the match with eight kills in 15 attempts and totaled five block assists. Kohler provided a team-best 19 assists, while Scanlon added 17 helpers. Junior Janelle Beaudry notched 17 digs, as the Lakers held Findlay to a .125 hitting percentage for the match.

GVSU returns to Allendale for a pair of home matches next weekend. On Friday night (Oct. 9), the Lakers take on visiting Ashland at 7:00 in its Breast Cancer Awareness match. All fans are asked to wear pink to show their support in the fight for a cure for breast cancer.