#7 Grand Valley State picked up right where it left off on Friday night, as the Lakers dominated visiting Bemidji State in a 3-0 sweep (25-20, 25-14, 25-17) on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 5) inside the Fieldhouse Arena. It was the start of day two at the GVSU Laker Riverfront Classic, as the Lakers have swept their last two opponents.
 
On Friday night (Sept. 4) against Carson-Newman, Grand Valley State notched a .320 hitting percentage in the 3-0 victory over the Eagles. GVSU's attack percentage in Saturday's win over Bemidji State was .248, but the team owned a sizeable 46-16 edge in kills. The Laker defense also forced the BSU offense into a -.035 hitting mark, with 19 errors to just 16 kills.
 
Moreover, Grand Valley State freshman Brooke Smith's 15 kills were just one fewer than Bemidji State's team total. Smith posted four kills in set one, five in the second frame, and six in set three, when Bemidji State managed just four putaways.
 
The Lakers are now 2-1 on the season and will close the home weekend tournament against Lock Haven at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Bemidji State is 0-3 to start the campaign.
 
GVSU trailed 16-15 in the opening set before Smith notched three kills in a five-point stretch and she dished an assist to senior Kourtney Wolters to put the Lakers on top, 19-18. In the final four points for Grand Valley State, senior Kaleigh Lound tallied a kill, a solo block, and combined with Wolters for the set-ending combined block. The Laker defense held BMU to a -.091 mark in the first set, with seven kills and 10 errors.
 
Bemidji State battled to within a point at 12-11 after trailing 12-6, but GVSU would not relinquish the lead. On top 14-12, the Lakers would rattle off seven consecutive points behind the serving of senior Taylor Shomin and the play of Lound, Smith, and Jessica Majerle. All three players had a kill and a block during the 7-0 surge. Back-to-back kills from Lound and freshman Danielle McCormick finished the frame.
 
A 10-10 tied third set quickly turned back into a 20-12 Laker advantage, as Wolters put down two kills and Shomin served up three aces in a four-point stretch. Smith added two more kills and GVSU finished off the sweep with a 25-17 win. Grand Valley State totaled 18 kills in the third set, compared to BSU's 16 for the entire match.
 
In addition to Smith's match-best 15 putaways, Wolters and Lound each had nine kills, while Wolters supplied a team-best 14 digs and Lound blocked six shots. Freshman Taylor Stewart passed for 35 assists and picked up eight digs, while Shomin notched 10 digs and four service aces.