Oct. 14, 2011

Box Score

Aurora, Ill. - After winning the first set against Missouri S&T on Friday afternoon (Oct. 14), Grand Valley State fell in the next three sets for a 3-1 final (27-25, 19-25, 23-25, 21-25). It was GVSU's opening match at the fourth annual GLIAC-GLVC Crossover Tournament in Aurora, Ill. The Lakers face Bellarmine at 5:30 p.m. (CST) on Friday night.

While Grand Valley State, the GLIAC's seventh seed, hit well for the match (a .211 hitting percentage and 41 kills), the Miners' offense was even more solid, connecting at a .266 clip with 65 putaways. The Lakers' defense did provide 10 blocks to just three for Missouri S&T, the fourth seed from the GLVC.

In the opening set, the Lakers trailed 14-10 before slowly creeping back into the match and tying the score at 16-16 on a combined block from junior Eno Umoh and freshman Clair Ruhenkamp. The score was tied again at points 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 before GVSU finally took control. Ruhenkamp dished a ball to classmate Abby Aiken for a kill, which was followed by a Miner hitting error to end the set in the Lakers' favor, 27-25.

A tight second set (the score was tied at 13-13) was opened up by Missouri S&T with an 8-2 run as the Miners pushed out to a 21-15 advantage. S&T hit .355 during the second set (including 16 kills), as it closed out the frame with a 25-19 victory.

Missouri S&T led 11-4 early in the third set before GVSU began to battle back. A kill from sophomore Lydnsey Holt was followed by consecutive putaways from Aiken, making the score 11-7. Three straight Miner attack errors (one of which was blocked by sophomores Megan Schroeder and Abby Ebels) brought the Lakers within two points at 14-12. S&T looked as if it took control with a 20-16 advantage, but GVSU pulled to 21-20 after a 4-1 run, which featured an Umoh ace and a kill from Ebels. The Lakers could never get the score tied again, as Missouri S&T finished the set with a 25-23 after a GVSU service error.

In the fourth set, GVSU was never able to take the lead, though the Lakers stayed close throughout the stanza. An Ebels kill made the score 8-7 before S&T pushed out to a 14-9 advantage. Trailing 20-15, the Lakers made their run, including kills from Ruhenkamp and libero Sacha Gill and an ace from Aiken. At this point in the set, GVSU was within one point at 22-21. The Miners, however, finished off the match with two kills and a Laker attack error for the 25-21 win.

Aiken led the GVSU offense with 12 kills and a .333 hitting percentage, while adding seven digs. Umoh provided eight kills, a match-high six blocks (two solo), two digs, and an ace. Schroeder tallied six kills and two blocks, while Gill picked up a team-best 10 digs. Ruhenkamp passed for 33 assists, to go with eight digs, two block assists, two aces, and a kill.