UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Grand Valley State volleyball team won a five-set thriller (25-18, 21-25, 25-14, 27-29, 16-14) on Friday against Saginaw Valley at Hamilton Gymnasium. The Lakers improve to 4-1 overall, while the Cardinals drop to 0-5. The two teams will meet tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 PM to close out the series.
 
Junior Ali Thompson had a huge night with 23 kills (.263 hit %) and 18 digs to lead the Lakers. Lisa Sullivan (13), Karlie Kucharczyk (12), and Jaelianna Primus (12) each finished with double-digit kills, while setter Rachel Jacquay dished out a career-high 57 assists. Junior Abby Graham had a team-high 31 digs. As a team, the Lakers led in most major categories including; attack percentage (.194-.139), kills (73-51), assists (66-50), and digs (114-97).
 
The first set was neck and neck early with no team leading by more than three points until GVSU ended the set on a 5-0 run to defeat the Cardinals, 25-18. The Lakers lost an 18-16 lead in set two as SVSU scored seven of the next eight points to seize control of the set. GVSU would bounce back in a big way in set three. Leading 9-7, the Lakers won nine straight points and cruised to a 25-14 set three win.
 
GVSU led 24-22 in set four and had multiple chances to win the match, however SVSU battled back from down 26-25 to win the set, 29-27. In the fifth and final set, GVSU was facing match point at 14-12 before taking advantage of a pair off attack errors to tie the set. Thompson then closed out the match with two straight kills to give the Lakers a 16-14 set five victory.