Oct. 1, 2013

Box Score

Big Rapids, Mich. - In the first meeting of the season between the West Michigan rivals, #17 Grand Valley State and #22 Ferris State competed in a classic match, with the Bulldogs prevailing with a five-set win. FSU won the first, second, and fifth sets on Tuesday night (Oct. 1), earning the wild 3-2 victory (25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 16-25, 15-10).

Both teams were on a roll entering the contest, as GVSU had won eight matches in a row, while Ferris State had swept each of its last five matches. Tuesday night's thriller - timed at 2 hours and 13 minutes - was tied 34 times (12 in the first set, 11 in the third) and there were 12 lead changes. Each team is 10-3 on the season; FSU improves to 5-0, while the Lakers are 4-1. The schools were the only conference teams without a loss in league play.

The loss is GVSU's first defeat away from home, as the Lakers were 6-0 on the road or at neutral sites, plus it is the team's first loss (3-1) in five-set matches. Grand Valley State is also 3-1 against ranked opponents, having defeated #6 Southwest Minnesota State, #6 Washburn, and #22 Central Washington in a seven-day span in September.

Naturally, the final team stats were very close. Ferris State did have more kills (65-53), assists (60-50), and a higher hitting percentage (.172 to .137), but GVSU owned advantages in aces (8-4) and blocks (10-6). Both teams recorded 84 digs.

To open the match, the score - very fittingly - was tied at points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Ferris State then scored the next five points to open a 15-10 advantage before the Lakers crawled back in and tied the score at 19-19 on a Kaitlyn Wolters service ace. Two FSU errors put GVSU on top, 21-19, but the Bulldogs scored four straight points and took a 23-21 lead, eventually finishing the set at 25-23.

Grand Valley State held a lead for a good portion of the second set, including a five-point cushion at 18-13 after a pair of kills from junior Abby Aiken. However, FSU scored the next five points before an Aiken solo block stopped the Bulldog surge. Tied again at points 20, 21, and 22, Ferris State tallied the final three points of the set, earning the 25-22 win.

In the third stanza, Ferris State owned a 13-8 advantage before the Lakers rattled off seven of the next nine points to tie the score at 15-15. GVSU took a 24-22 lead on a Kaleigh Lound kill, but the Bulldogs scored two straight points to again knot the frame. An attack error by FSU and a combined block from Lound and Wolters gave the Lakers a 26-24 victory. Grand Valley State held the Bulldogs to a -.029 hitting percentage (eight kills, nine errors) in the set.

GVSU used a tremendous run late in the fourth set to force the pivotal fifth frame. The Lakers trailed 14-11 before consecutive Bulldog errors and a kill from junior Ally Simmons tied the score at 14-14. Aiken followed with back-to-back service aces and sophomore Betsy Ronda put down a kill after an FSU error to make the score 18-14. Moments later, Simmons and Lound recorded consecutive kills and Simmons served up an ace; GVSU led 21-15 at this point. The Lakers finished the set and evened the match on back-to-back kills from Wolters and Lound, capping the wild 14-2 run.

The fifth set belonged to the Bulldogs, who led 5-1 and 10-4. Grand Valley State never relented, pulling with 11-8 after a Ronda ace and a combined block from Aiken and Lound. Simmons' kill made the score 14-10, but FSU finished the match with a kill of its own, ending the match in favor of the home team.

Leading the way for the Lakers offensively was Simmons, who was terrific. She notched 14 kills in 23 attempts, committing only one hitting error and owning a .565 attack percentage. Simmons also provided two blocks and two aces. Ronda (19 digs, 12 kills, two blocks) and Wolters (38 assists, 19 digs, seven kills, two blocks) both recorded double-doubles.

Lound played very well with 10 kills, a .350 hitting mark, and a match-best six blocks, while Aiken picked up 19 digs, nine kills, three aces, and three blocks. Junior libero Christina Canepa added 14 digs and eight assists.

The Lakers return home to host Ohio Dominican (Friday, 7:00 p.m.) and Tiffin (Saturday, 4:00 p.m.) this weekend in GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.