RINDGE, N.H. - The Grand Valley State volleyball team opened the 2018 season with a victory, sweeping Wilmington (Del.), 3-0, en route to a 1-0 record. The Lakers will keep their opening day going later this afternoon, as they are slated to take on New Haven at 6:00 PM at the Raven First Serve Invitational. The Chargers will be a good test for the Lakers early in the season, as they swept through their conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA DII Quarterfinal match last season, finishing with a 26-8 overall record and a 14-0 mark in conference play. 
 
The Lakers led the Wildcats in nearly all facets of the game, edging them in kills (47-22), attack percentage (.317-.050), digs (54-34), and assists (43-17) while they tied with three team blocks apiece. 
 
Senior Staci Brower led the offensive barrage, racking up a game-high 12 kills to go along with a blistering .647 attack percentage. Freshman Ali Thompson posted a solid college debut, collecting nine kills and a .353 attack percentage to go along with eight digs. Setter Ashlyn Kartes ranked third on the squad with seven kills while posting a game-high 34 assists and 13 digs. Kaylene Norris also added in 13 digs as well. 
 
In the first set, Wilmington took a quick 3-1 lead over GVSU but the Lakers quickly answered the Wildcats with five straight points to take the 6-3 advantage. After a quick 6-6 tie, GVSU went up 10-8 before the Lakers offense caught fire and rattled off six straight kills followed by a Wildcat attack error to take a commanding 17-8 lead. From that point on, the Lakers would go on to ourscore Wilmington eight to four for the impressive 25-12 first set victory. 
 
Following the blowout first set loss, Wilmington used the break to regroup and both teams came out firing in the second as they traded points back and forth to a 9-9 tie. GVSU then steadily grew their lead to 13-11 before Hannah Murdock, Abby Graham, and Brower all delivered kills. Another attack error from the Wildcats gave GVSU some breathing room, 17-11. The Lakers maintained their six-point lead for the majority of the back end of the set. After stretching the gap to nine points, the Lakers put the Wildcats away, 25-18, and nabbed the 2-0 lead. 
 
Once again, the two teams played back and forth volleyball for the first few points until GVSU took a four-point lead, 9-5, after a kill, an ace, and a bad set from Wilmington. The Lakers maintained their four-point cushion for a few points and finally widened the gap with six straight points on four kills and two errors to go up 17-7. The Wildcats weren't done however and went on a 6 to 1 run, cutting the lead to five, 18-13. GVSU was too far out ahead though, and would outscore Wilmington 7-3 to secure the 25-16 victory in the set and the overall victory in the match. 
 
Again, the Lakers will face New Haven tonight at 6:00 PM and will be back in action tomorrow with matches against Franklin Pierce at 10:00 AM and Tampa at 2:00 PM.