Sept. 12, 2010

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State had unbeaten Northern Michigan on the ropes on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 12) in Allendale, but the Lakers were unable to close out the Wildcats, falling 3-2 (25-18, 14-25, 13-25, 25-23, 15-13) in a back-and-forth classic. GVSU won sets two and three, but Northern Michigan rallied back to win the fourth and fifth sets each by two points to remain undefeated.

The loss to the Wildcats puts Grand Valley State at 2-4 on the year, 1-1 in the GLIAC, while Northern Michigan improves to a perfect 7-0 and 3-0 in league play. It was the third match of the weekend for NMU and while the Wildcats appeared to be mentally and physically exhausted in the second and third sets, they battled back to steal a win from GVSU in very tough fourth and fifth sets.

Both teams were very similar in the final stats. Grand Valley State held slim advantages in kills (58-57), assists (57-54), and digs (93-90), while owning a massive lead in the block column. The Laker defense at the net was terrific, recording 24 block assists for 13 total team blocks, while NMU had eight rejections. Four GVSU players had five or more block assists.

Things did not start out well for the Lakers, as they trailed early in the first set by a 6-1 count. Northern Michigan kept control throughout the set, even opening up a 10-point lead at 17-7. GVSU battled back to within 18-15 after a pair of kills from senior Rebeccah Rapin and a kill from freshman Stacey Catalano, but NMU would use a 7-3 run from that point to finish the set.

The Lakers turned things around in the second set, racing out to an 8-3 lead that was extended to 17-10. With the score at 23-13 in GVSU's advantage, senior Leslie Curtis dove onto the floor and somehow managed to dig a loose ball up into the air, over the net, and down onto NMU's side for an incredible point that gave the Lakers a 24-13 lead and delighted the Laker faithful. Grand Valley State would tie the set at 1-1 after a kill from Rapin finished the set at 25-14.

A close third set between the two teams was blown up during the middle of the set when sophomore Olivia Kohler stepped back to serve with a four-point lead (15-11). Catalano notched a kill, the Wildcats had a bad set and an attack error, Kohler tallied an ace, junior Nicole Whiddon recorded a kill, and after a NMU attack error, the Lakers were ahead 21-11. GVSU was fantastic in the third frame, notching a .448 hitting percentage with 14 kills and one error.

In the fourth set, the teams were tied at 12-12 before Northern Michigan scored three straight points, including a pair of aces. The Lakers cut the score to 18-17, but could never regain the lead in the set. Trailing 24-21, Catalano totaled a kill and NMU had an attack error, but the Wildcats then finished the set and forced a fifth set with a kill.

The fifth set saw Northern Michigan jump out to an 8-2 lead and look like they had finished off the Lakers. Grand Valley State battled back after two kills from Curtis sandwiched one by Catalano and the Lakers were back to 8-5. A service ace from senior Meghan Scanlon made the score 10-8, which was promptly followed by a Wildcat attack error to put GVSU down just a point at 10-9. NMU scored three of the next five points and looked to pull away with a 13-11 lead. However, the Lakers used a kill from senior Krysta Kornack and a combined block from Kornack and Rapin to tie the score at 13-13. GVSU then had a service error and the Wildcats finished off the set and match with one final kill for a tough 15-13 victory.

Grand Valley State received several standout performances during the two-hour, one-minute marathon. Rapin recorded a team-high 14 kills, to go along with six blocks (one solo), while Catalano tallied a double-double of 12 kills and 12 digs. Curtis provided 24 digs and added nine kills, while Kornack added eight kills and five block assists.

Umoh was terrific at the net, rejecting six shots and also adding seven kills. Whiddon also picked up six block assists and put away six kills. Scanlon served up four service aces to go along with her 27 assists and 13 digs, while Kohler dished out 24 assists and had five digs. Freshman Sacha Gill notched a match-high 25 digs for the Lakers.

GVSU returns to action on Wednesday night (Sept. 15) at 7:00 p.m. against West Michigan rival, Ferris State.