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It took a set for the #18 Grand Valley State volleyball team to get rolling, but when they did, the Lakers took control and won the next three sets over #14 Ferris State on Tuesday night (Sept. 23) in Allendale. GVSU took down its West Michigan rival by scores of 23-25, 25-17, 25-17, and 25-22 for its fifth consecutive victory.

The Lakers and Bulldogs had identical records entering the contest. Grand Valley State is now 7-2 on the season and a perfect 5-0 in GLIAC play, while Ferris State falls for the first time in the last six matches. FSU is now 6-3 overall and 4-1 in league action.

Tuesday night's match was billed as a "Whiteout", as Laker fans were encouraged to show their support for GVSU and wear white. The promotion worked wonderfully, as 1,046 fans filled the Fieldhouse Arena. That is the largest home crowd since 1,539 fans came out to Allendale on Oct. 7, 2006 when GVSU faced #9 Hillsdale.

The teams were pretty even defensively (seven blocks apiece, GVSU led in digs 85-79), but it was the offensive side that helped the Lakers to victory. Grand Valley State hit .216 with 53 kills and only 18 errors, while Ferris State managed a .097 mark. FSU totaled 50 kills, but also 33 hitting errors - nearly double the Lakers total.

Ferris State prevailed in the first set, which was the closest one of the contest. There were 11 tie scores and five lead changes, including a 22-22 tie. The Bulldogs committed a hitting error, giving GVSU the 23-22 advantage. However, FSU notched the next three points - on a pair of kills and a Laker error - to take the opening set.

In set two, Grand Valley State raced out to an 8-3 lead on three consecutive Bulldog attack errors. The advantage built to 13-6 and eventually 17-11 after back-to-back kills from junior Betsy Ronda and senior Christina Canepa, the team's starting libero. GVSU's cushion was 22-17 when senior Abby Aiken put down on a kill, FSU committed an error, and freshman Sydney Doby notched a solo block to finish the set and even the match at 1-1. The Lakers hit .317 (15 kills, two errors) in the second stanza.

GVSU got out to another first start in set three, leading 5-1 in the opening moments. With the score at 8-5, the Lakers scored six straight points, which included kills from sophomore Carley Gross and senior Kaitlyn Wolters, and a service ace from senior Kourtney Wolters. The advantage was 14-5 and GVSU would have no problem closing out the set. Ferris State had as many kills (nine) as errors (nine) in the frame for a .000 attack percentage.

It was the Bulldogs getting off to a good start in set four, as the visitors scored the first three points. FSU still led 11-8 when the Lakers rattled off five straight points to take a 13-11 advantage. Consecutive kills from junior Kaleigh Lound and Ronda were followed by back-to-back-to-back errors by the Bulldogs. Leading 13-12, GVSU would score five of the next seven points and take an 18-14 lead. Ferris State kept it close, even pulling to within two points at 24-22 after the Lakers had a 24-20 advantage. On match point, Doby again notched a huge solo rejection on the Bulldog attacker, finishing off the set and match. Doby, a true freshman, was the only player in the match with two solo blocks.

Four Lakers reached double-digits in kills in the win. Kaitlyn Wolters shared team-high honors with 11 kills (and zero errors for a .478 percentage), but also added 34 assists and 12 digs. It was her first career triple-double and the first by a GVSU player since former setter Jamie Ashmore accomplished the feat on Nov. 17, 2007 against Lewis. Ashmore put up comparable numbers that day with 40 assists, 16 digs, and 11 kills.

Ronda picked up 15 digs and added 11 kills and a pair of service aces, while Lound notched 10 kills and a couple blocks. Gross continued her strong recent play, recording 10 kills (and only one error) in 13 swings for a terrific .692 hitting percentage. Defensively, Aiken (19 digs, four kills, three blocks), Canepa (19 digs, four assists, two kills in three attempts) and Kourtney Wolters (16 digs, six assists) were very solid throughout the match.

The Lakers look to ride this momentum during their weekend trip to Ohio. GVSU heads to Columbus on Friday night (Sept. 26) to face Ohio Dominican at 7:00 p.m. before taking on Tiffin on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 27) at 2:00 p.m.