Nov. 5, 2010

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Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State cruised past Northwood on Friday night (Nov. 5) in Allendale, as the #15 Lakers took just 59 minutes to earn a 3-0 sweep (25-10, 25-14, 25-20) over the Timberwolves. GVSU opened up a 20-4 lead in the first set and continued to roll from that point, winning for the 14th consecutive match and reaching the 20-win plateau for the 30th time in program history.

The win is the Lakers' fourth straight 3-0 victory, as the team has recorded 15 three-set wins on the year. GVSU improves to 20-5 overall and 16-2 in league play, while Northwood falls to 13-12 on the year and 10-8 in GLIAC competition. It is the 13th time in 16 seasons that head coach Deanne Scanlon has won 20 matches in a season at Grand Valley State.

Entering the match, Grand Valley State and Northern Michigan both had two losses in GLIAC play, but the Wildcats fell at Hillsdale on Friday night. If GVSU defeats Lake Superior State on Sunday (Nov. 7), the Lakers will be crowned GLIAC North Division champions.

Grand Valley State led 3-2 before a double block from seniors Rebeccah Rapin and Krysta Kornack started quite a run for the Lakers. Leading 4-2 and with sophomore Olivia Kohler serving, GVSU scored 11 straight points to jump ahead to a 15-2 advantage. Kohler notched a pair of service aces during the run, as Kornack had a hand in two block assists with sophomore Eno Umoh, while Umoh also tallied a solo block. The Lakers extended the lead to 20-4 on an ace from Kornack. Rapin added two kills the rest of the set, as GVSU cruised to an opening frame 25-10 win. In the first set, the Lakers hit .318 while holding the Timberwolves to a -.167 attack clip.

To start the second frame, Grand Valley State raced out to a 4-0 lead on the serving of senior Meghan Scanlon, who recorded an ace and an assist in the run. Leading 6-2, Scanlon then dished out three straight assists to Rapin, junior Nicole Whiddon, and freshman Stacey Catalano to up the score to 9-2. Northwood rallied back to within 13-10 before the Lakers used a 7-2 run, featuring one kill apiece from Kornack, Whiddon, Rapin, and Catalano to move out to a 20-12 advantage. To close out the set, Catalano notched three consecutive kills and four putaways in five points, as she recorded six kills in 11 swings during the set. The Lakers hit .414 during the frame, while holding the Timberwolves to a .034 attack mark.

GVSU again led early in the third set, opening up a 7-2 score which saw Catalano total three kills, Rapin pick up a pair of kills, and the duo combine for a double block. Northwood closed the gap and actually tied the score at 12-12 before the Lakers regained control by scoring the next three points. Ahead 16-14, GVSU scored three straight points on a Northwood service error and back-to-back kills from Rapin to push out to a 19-14 advantage. NU kept the score close and was within three point at 20-17, but a kill from freshman Abby Ebels, assisted by Kohler, ended the set at 25-20.

For the match, Grand Valley State hit .308 with 40 kills, as Northwood connected at an .034 mark with 20 attack errors. The Lakers' defense recorded 11 total blocks with 41 digs and GVSU served up seven service aces.

Rapin played terrific with 13 kills in 20 attempts and did not commit an error, giving her a .650 hitting percentage. She also added six total blocks (two solo, four assists), and a pair of digs. Catalano tallied 12 kills, eight digs, and a pair of blocks, while Kornack supplied seven kills, a .429 hitting percentage, three block assists, three digs, and an ace.

Scanlon tallied another double-double, dishing out a match-best 20 assists and picking up a team-high 11 digs to go with her two aces. Senior Leslie Curtis was in double figures with 10 digs, while the senior also served up a pair of aces. Whiddon notched four kills in seven swings for a .429 hitting percentage and blocked two shots, as Umoh added five total blocks (one solo, four assists). Kohler provided 13 assists, three digs, and two aces.

Grand Valley State will host Lake Superior State on Sunday (Nov. 7) at 2:00 p.m. in Fieldhouse Arena. The match will be the last regular season contest and the team's four seniors (Curtis, Kornack, Rapin, and Scanlon) will be honored prior to the match on 'Senior Day'.