Sept. 11, 2010

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Allendale, Mich. - In the GLIAC season opener for Grand Valley State, the Lakers needed just over an hour to dispose of Michigan Tech on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 11), defeating the Huskies, 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-12). GVSU hit a terrific .441 in the third set to close out the visiting Huskies and the Lakers defense carried the team to its first conference victory.

After opening the 2010 season at the Tampa Classic last weekend, Grand Valley State returned home to begin its conference season. The victory over MTU puts the Lakers at 2-3 on the season, 1-0 in league play. Michigan Tech falls to 1-5 with an 0-2 mark in the GLIAC.

While GVSU doubled Michigan Tech in kills (46 to 22) and the Lakers attacked at a solid .250 percentage, the defense paved the way for an easy win. Grand Valley State notched 11 total blocks, picked up 57 digs, and held the Huskies to an .019 hitting percentage. While MTU never hit higher than .027 in any of the three sets, the Lakers connected at a .441 mark to close out the third set with a 25-12 victory.

The first set was tied early eight times before the Lakers began to pull away after an 11-11 tie. GVSU quickly extended the score to 17-13 after a kill and a service ace from freshman Stacey Catalano, a kill from junior Nicole Whiddon and a combined block from Whiddon and senior Krysta Kornack. Michigan Tech would not get closer than three points the rest of the set and a kill from senior Rebeccah Rapin finished the set at 25-19.

MTU hung close for the early portion of the second set, trailing 10-7 before the Lakers put together a 10-3 run to blow the set wide open. Grand Valley State's defense forced seven Husky attack errors during that stretch, including back-to-back combined blocks from Rapin and sophomore Eno Umoh. Michigan Tech would rally within 20-14, but a 5-2 run by the Lakers would close out the set in which the Huskies hit just .000 (six kills, six errors).

In the third set, Michigan Tech led 4-1 before GVSU scored 14 of the next 19 points, eventually leading 15-9. Grand Valley State would close out the set on a 10-3 run, which featured strong serving from sophomore Olivia Kohler and three straight kills from Whiddon (two of which were assisted by Kohler). The Lakers connected for 17 kills and just two errors in their .441 hitting percentage in the set.

GVSU had six players with five or more kills, as Kornack recorded a match-best 11 kills, to go along with four blocks (one solo). Catalano added seven kills to her tally of 10 digs, three assists, two service aces, and two blocks (one solo). Whiddon totaled seven kills in nine attempts for an outstanding .778 hitting percentage, as she also picked up three block assists.

Senior Leslie Curtis also had seven kills and added 13 digs and a service ace, while Rapin supplied five kills and a match-high five blocks. Rapin was honored before the match with a personalized volleyball commemorating her recent achievement of joining the 1,000-kill club, which she accomplished last Saturday (Sept. 4) against Central Missouri. Rapin now has 1,031 career kills.

Umoh was errorless attacking the ball, as she totaled six kills in 13 attempts for a .462 percentage, while adding four blocks. Senior Meghan Scanlon dished out a match-high 20 assists and notched six digs, while Kohler passed out 19 assists with seven digs and a kill. Freshman Sacha Gill led all players with 16 kills.

The Lakers return to the court on Sunday (Sept. 12) at home against Northern Michigan in a 2:00 p.m. match.