Grand Valley State kicked off the 2016 season with a solid result, as the Lakers swept Minnesota Crookston in just 70 minutes at the Ferris State Invitational in Big Rapids on Friday morning (Sept. 1). Totaling 32 kills and 48 digs in the three-set win, GVSU held the Golden Eagles to a .000 hitting percentage in a strong defensive Laker performance.

Friday's meeting was the third all-time match between the two schools, with Grand Valley State winning all three contests by 3-0 scores, including a sweep on Sept. 12, 2015 in Sioux Falls, SD. The Lakers start the new year with a 1-0 record, while Minnesota Crookston drops to 0-1.

GVSU held an advantage over the Golden Eagles in nearly every stat, including kills (32-26), assists (28-21), digs (48-40), and aces (5-3). Minnesota Crookston recorded 26 kills, but also was forced into 26 attack errors by the Laker defense, equaling an even .000 hitting percentage. Both teams notched four blocks.

Eight different Lakers put down a kill, led by a match-best nine kills from sophomore Staci Brower, the reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year. She also led both teams with four block assists. Classmate Brooke Smith recorded a match-high 16 digs to go with five kills and two of GVSU's five service aces.

One of the younger teams in recent Laker memory, GVSU head coach Deanne Scanlon started three freshmen in the opening contest of the season. Outside hitter Kendall Yerkes provided six kills, six digs, two assists, and a block, while middle hitter Jayci Suseland added four kills, two digs, and two blocks. Libero Sydney Benchley picked up 14 digs in her first collegiate match.

Junior Katie Olson handed out 17 of the Lakers' 28 assists, while sophomore Shannon Wincki put down four kills in a dozen attempts. 

Grand Valley State got off to a fast start in the opening frame, pushing out to a 10-4 advantage. Two kills from Brower and a service ace from senior Amanda Glaza highlighted a four-point Laker run early in the stanza. Consecutive kills from Winicki and Suseland upped the score to 16-6. A few points later, Brower put down a kill and teamed with Yerkes for a combined block that pushed the Laker lead to 19-7. Kills from Yerkes and sophomores Taylor Stewart and Danielle McCormick finished off the frame for GVSU.

Benchley's strong serving began an early 5-0 run that opened a 7-2 advantage in set two. With the Lakers still on top 15-11, Benchley helped serve up another 5-0 run, which featured kills from Suseland and Brower. That duo also combined for a block during the surge to a 21-11 lead. GVSU held Minnesota Crookston to a -.111 hitting percentage in the second frame on just six kills and 10 errors.  

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a quick start in the third stanza, leading 12-6 midway through the set before GVSU rallied back. Kills from sophomore Jillian Butsavich and Smith - plus a Smith ace - highlighted a 5-0 run that brought the Lakers within a point. After a UMC error and a Suseland kill, the set was tied at 14-14; the set was tied again at points 19, 20, 21, and 22. Yerkes gave the Lakers a 23-22 lead on a kill, the Golden Eagles committed a hitting error, and a combined Brower-Suseland block ended the match in just one hour, 10 minutes.

Scanlon and the Lakers are now 19-3 in season openers during her 22-year tenure as GVSU head coach, including wins in nine of their last 10 openers.

Grand Valley State is back in action on Friday evening and the team's next three matches in the tournament are against quality competition. The Lakers face #10 Minnesota Duluth at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, followed by matches against #21 Winona State (12:00 p.m.) and #20 Cal State San Bernardino (5:00 p.m.) on Saturday (Sept. 3).