Oct. 2, 2010

Box Score

University Center, Mich. - After sweeping Ferris State on the road on Friday night (Oct. 1), Grand Valley State kept its winning ways going with a 3-0 win (25-19, 27-25, 25-16) at Saginaw Valley State on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 2). With the win, the Lakers are 8-2 in GLIAC play and each of their past five victories have been shutouts. GVSU went 6-1 on its seven-match road trip.

Overall, Grand Valley State is now 9-5 on the year with the 8-2 league record, as SVSU falls to 6-6 overall and 4-4 in GLIAC play. The Lakers won six of their seven matches on the road trip, winning five of the matches by 3-0 sweeps and using five sets to beat Northwood on Sept. 17, the first match of the road swing. Overall, GVSU has won eight of its last nine matches.

Grand Valley State was in control all day long against the Cardinals. GVSU hit .278 with 42 kills, while holding Saginaw Valley State to an .085 hitting percentage and 23 attack errors. The Lakers owned the net, recording eight total blocks (including five block assists from sophomore Eno Umoh and four from senior Krysta Kornack), while picking up 44 digs to SVSU's 35.

In the opening set, the Lakers led 10-7 before Saginaw Valley State rallied to tie the score at 12-12. After a 13-13 tie, GVSU scored four straight points to open up a nice lead. The Lakers used two SVSU errors, a kill from senior Leslie Curtis, and an ace from Kornack to move the score to 17-13. Ahead 18-15, Grand Valley State tallied back-to-back kills from Curtis and senior Rebeccah Rapin to push ahead, 20-15. A kill from freshman Stacey Catalano ended the opening frame at 25-20.

The teams were tied 14 times in the second set and Saginaw Valley State was serving for set point at 24-23, but recorded a service error. One point later, the Cardinals led 25-24, but Kornack tied the score with a kill off a feed from sophomore Olivia Kohler. GVSU scored the next two points on dishes from Kohler to Umoh and Kornack for consecutive kills to end the set with a 27-25 hard-fought win.

Winning the tough second set seemed to kill any momentum SVSU had, as the Lakers zipped out to a 7-2 lead after three straight kills from Rapin, Catalano, and Umoh. Saginaw Valley State battled back to within 13-11, but GVSU scored seven straight points on Kohler's serving to push the score out to 20-11. Rapin and Catalano tallied kills during the run, but five points were created by SVSU errors. Umoh had two block assists during the run and combined with Kornack on one block and Catalano on the other. The Lakers hit .333 with 13 kills during the set, while holding the hometown Cardinals to a .000 percentage and nine errors.

There were many strong outings for GVSU on Saturday. Statistically, Rapin led the Lakers with 10 kills and hit .368 with three total blocks (one solo). Catalano notched nine kills, eight digs, two block assists, and an ace. Umoh hit a sparkling .636 with eight kills in 11 attempts, while adding the match-high five blocks.

Kornack hit .389 with eight kills and just one error in 18 attacks, while adding four block assists, three digs, and an ace. Curtis led all players with 10 digs, while adding five kills. Senior Meghan Scanlon dished out a team-high 19 assists with five digs, while Kohler supplied 18 assists and seven digs.

After seven consecutive road matches, Grand Valley State returns to Allendale for a pair of home contests next week. The Lakers host Ashland on Thursday night (Oct. 7) at 7:00 p.m., followed by a match against Tiffin on Friday (Oct. 8) also at 7:00 p.m. GVSU is 2-1 this year in home matches.