Sept. 16, 2011

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 Postgame Comments

Allendale, Mich. - #18 Grand Valley State University made it a happy home opener for the Laker fans on Friday (Sept. 16) night as they defeated Lake Superior State in straight sets, 25-17, 26-24, 25-14. Freshman Clair Ruhenkamp had an all-around game to remember in her first home match, tallying 32 assists, six digs, five service aces and two blocks in front of 518 fans at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

The two teams battled back and forth to begin the match, with neither team gaining more than a two-point advantage up to a 13-12 GVSU lead. Starting with a solo block from Ruhenkamp to make it 14-12, GVSU jumped out to a 17-12 lead to take control of the set. From there, GVSU used four three-point runs to capture the first set of the match by a 25-17 score.

GVSU trailed 8-6 in the second set before a kill from Stacey Catalano made it an 8-7 Lake Superior State lead as GVSU began their run that led to a 15-11 GVSU lead. Grand Valley State actually held a 23-17 advantage before Lake Superior State mounted a big comeback of their own, scoring five straight points to make it a 23-22 game. A kill from Catalano put GVSU on the brink of a victory at 24-22, but Lake Superior State used a GVSU attack error and a kill to tie it up at 24. A Lake Superior State attack error, however, led to a kill from freshman Abby Aiken to secure set two by a 26-24 margin.

GVSU jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in set three but again Lake Superior State fought back, tying it up at four a piece. GVSU used kills from junior Eno Umoh and sophomore Megan Schroeder sandwiched around a Catalano service ace to take a 7-4 lead and control of the set. After GVSU got three three-point runs to make it an 18-10 margin, Lake Superior State cut the lead with two consecutive points before another three point run put GVSU ahead 21-12 after a solo block from sophomore Sam Phillips. A Lake Superior State service error and attack error would bring the match to a close as GVSU captured the final set by a 25-14 margin.

GVSU hit .276 in the match and had nine total service aces, five from Ruhenkamp. The team collected eight team blocks including three from senior Nicole Whiddon. Catalano led the team in kills (13) and digs (17) while hitting .370. Whiddon had the highest percentage on the day, hitting .385 with six kills. Sophomore Sacha Gill had 16 digs and one ace while three other GVSU players joined Whiddon with six kills as Schroeder, Aiken and Umoh all had six attacks hit the floor.

GVSU (5-3, 2-2 GLIAC) will play their third match in four days when they take on Northwood (4-4, 2-1 GLIAC) on Saturday (Sept. 17) at 4 p.m. in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena. Lake Superior State fell to 2-5 on the year with a 1-2 record in the GLIAC.