Friday night vs. Saginaw Valley State (7:00 p.m.): Live Stats | Watch
 
Saturday afternoon vs. Wayne State (2:00 p.m.): Live Stats | Watch
 
After playing three road matches last week - including a quick trip to the Upper Peninsula - #17 Grand Valley State is back in Allendale to close out the regular season inside the Fieldhouse Arena. The Lakers welcome Saginaw Valley State and Wayne State this weekend, with a potential GLIAC championship on the line.
 
With a 19-4 overall record, GVSU sits atop the conference standings with a 15-1 league record. The Lakers are in a first place tie with Ferris State in GLIAC play and since the teams are travel partners, Grand Valley State and FSU will both face Saginaw Valley State (16-8 overall, 12-4 GLIAC) and Wayne State (9-14, 6-10) this weekend in their home gyms.
 
Since a 2-2 start to the season - after the opening trip to the Oredigger Classic in Golden, Colo. - the Lakers have won 17 of their last 19 contests. That recent success has helped GVSU remain high in the regional standings, earning the second seed in the latest NCAA Midwest Region rankings. Both of Grand Valley State's in-region losses are to teams currently highly ranked - Ferris State is the fourth seed, while Missouri S&T is slotted sixth. Truman State is the top seed in the Midwest Region this week.
 
GVSU has played and defeated both their opponents this weekend, beating Wayne State 3-0 in Detroit on Sept. 12 before winning the final three sets to defeat Saginaw Valley State 3-2 on Sept. 13. The Lakers used 25 digs and 23 kills from junior Betsy Ronda to top the Cardinals, which included a 16-14 fifth set victory.
 
Saginaw Valley State has been very streaky this season, including win streaks of six, four, three, and three, while also owning a pair of three-match losing streaks and midseason two-match losing stretch. The Cardinals started the season with a 3-3 record (including losses to both Ferris State and GVSU) before winning seven of their next 10 contests. Currently riding a six-match win streak (including five sweeps), SVSU is 6-2 on the road this year and has won four road matches in a row.
 
Wayne State is the complete opposite, as they have won or lost more than two matches consecutively only once this season - its longest losing streak is three matches, while its longest winning streak is two in a row. The Warriors have won three of their last five contests, but have won just once in their last four road outings. On the season, WSU is 3-5 in true road matches.
 
In the league standings, Saginaw Valley State is tied for fourth place with Northern Michigan, as both teams are pushing for the fourth seed in order to host a GLIAC Quarterfinal match next Wednesday (Nov. 12). Wayne State is on the outside of the conference tournament picture, as it is tied for 10^th place with Tiffin and Michigan Tech heading into this weekend.
 
The Lakers, who have already clinched a home match next Wednesday in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament, have played very well at home this season. GVSU is 7-0 inside the Fieldhouse Arena and have swept six of its seven opponents at home this year - only Ferris State avoided a 3-0 defeat, taking one set from the Lakers in Grand Valley State's 3-1 win on Sept. 23.
 
Before Saturday's contest, the team will honor its six-member senior class, one of the top senior classes in recent memory. There are a pair of 2013 All-Americans (outside hitter Abby Aiken and setter Kaitlyn Wolters) and one of the top liberos in GVSU history in Christina Canepa. Rounding out the class are three strong contributors in setter Clair Ruhenkamp, middle blocker Ally Simmons, and versatile all-around player Kourtney Wolters.
 
With a GLIAC regular season championship up for grabs and the honoring of a great senior class, there is a lot on the line this weekend for Grand Valley State inside the Fieldhouse Arena.