at #19 Ferris State (Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.): Live Stats
 
Grand Valley State will open up 2016 postseason play in the GLIAC Tournament on Wednesday night (Nov. 16), as the Lakers will travel north to Big Rapids to take on #19 Ferris State in the opening round. The rivalry match between GVSU and Ferris State will start at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday in the third meeting of the teams this season.
 
With a 15-13 overall record and a 9-8 GLIAC mark, Grand Valley State is the eighth seed in this year's conference tournament. After finishing 25-5 overall and 16-1 in league play, Ferris State earned the top seed in the GLIAC.
 
This is the 20th consecutive season that GVSU has advanced to the conference tournament and the 21st time overall in program history. Grand Valley State is 35-16 all-time in the GLIAC Tournament for a .686 winning percentage, while the Lakers have advanced to the championship match 12 times and won six GLIAC Tournament titles (2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2013).
 
The West Michigan rivals have met twice this season, with Ferris State getting the upper hand over the Lakers in both meetings. On Sept. 27 in Allendale, GVSU fell in a 3-1 contest where the scores were tight throughout (24-26, 25-21, 20-25, 18-25). Ferris State won in a straight set sweep on Nov. 1 in Big Rapids, 3-0.
 
Here are the matchups for Wednesday's opening round of the 2016 GLIAC Tournament:
 
GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals - Wednesday, Nov. 16
(All matches at 7:00 p.m.)
Hosted on campus of higher seed
 
Match 1: #1 Ferris State vs. #8 Grand Valley State
 
Match 2: #4 Saginaw Valley State vs. #5 Michigan Tech
 
Match 3: #3 Ashland vs. #6 Wayne State
 
Match 4: #2 Findlay vs. #7 Lake Erie
 
GLIAC Tournament Semifinals - Saturday, Nov. 19
Hosted by highest remaining seed
 
Match 5: Match 3 Winner vs. Match 4 Winner
 
Match 6: Match 1 Winner vs. Match 2 Winner
 
GLIAC Championship - Sunday, Nov. 20
 
Match 7: Match 5 Winner vs. Match 6 Winner
 
The Lakers are led by a pair of younger hitters, as freshman Jayci Suseland has recorded 362 kills and 3.51 kills per set, good for seventh and fourth, respectively, among all GLIAC players. She is hitting .253 from the right side and has recorded 66 total blocks, placing her in the top-25 of the league.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Staci Brower has posted 306 kills (15th in the league), but she's been even better at the net. Brower ranks second in the GLIAC in solo blocks (34), third in blocks per set (1.13), fifth in total blocks (117), and seventh in block assists (83). The reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year, Brower owns a .301 hitting percentage, eighth-best in the league.
 
A pair of outside hitters have produced throughout the year, as well. Sophomore Brooke Smith has posted 310 digs (second on the team) and 189 kills, while freshman Kendall Yerkes leads the team with 342 digs and is fourth with 187 kills. Junior setter Katie Olson has passed for 860 assists (8.27 per set) and picked up 294 digs, while freshman Sydney Benchley (292 digs, team-high 22 aces) and senior Amanda Glaza (219 digs, 19 aces) have also eclipsed the 200-dig mark.
 
GVSU had swept Lake Superior State and Northwood in consecutive matches before dropping its regular season finale at home last Saturday against Hillsdale. All four sets were decided by the minimum two points, with the Chargers winning three of those four sets for the 3-1 victory.
 
The Lakers are 5-5 in true road matches this year, while Ferris State is 9-3 at home through the regular season.
 
In GLIAC play this season, Grand Valley State was first in the league in both kills (13.48) and assists (12.70) per set, while ranking second in blocks per set (2.37) and total blocks (149). The Lakers are also third in total digs (1,158) and digs per set (18.38), while producing the second-most points per set (16.7) of any team in conference matches.
 
Ferris State has won 21 consecutive matches and has not lost since Sept. 16 at home in a 3-1 defeat to Northwood. 11 of those 21 victories have come by 3-0 sweeps. Though the Bulldogs did not rank first in any statistical category in GLIAC matches, FSU was ranked high in several categories. The team was second in solo blocks (59) and fourth in kills per set (13.05), blocks per set (2.25), and digs per set (17.56). Ferris State's .201 hitting percentage is fifth-best, as it also is fifth in assists per set (12.25) and total blocks (137).
 
Freshman outside hitter Allyson Cappel leads the Bulldogs with 362 kills and is third with 320 digs, not to mention 58 total blocks and 30 service aces. Another outside hitter - junior Ayanna Buckley - has 296 kills and 62 rejections, while classmate Maria Kronner leads FSU with 92 blocks and is third with 246 kills.
 
With a win on Wednesday night, the Lakers would advance to the GLIAC Semifinals on Saturday (Nov. 19) at the site of the highest remaining seed, with match times not yet available.