HAMMOND, IND. – The Grand Valley women's volleyball split their two matchups in the opening day of the Midwest Region Crossover. The Lakers beat Hillsdale 3-2 to start off the morning, before falling to Lewis in the nightcap 3-0.
 
Against Hillsdale, both teams battled back and forth throughout the first three sets, but GVSU was able to take control during the last two sets to take the match. In set one, the teams traded points to start before the Chargers took a 16-11 lead midway through the set and held on from there, taking it 25-20. Set two saw the Lakers jump out to a quick lead, going up 10-4 early on, but Hillsdale made a late run to cut it within one at 19-18, but GVSU responded right back with a 6-2 run to close it out and take set two 25-20. In set three, it was Hillsdale jumping out to an early lead, going up 8-4 thanks to a quick start, but the Lakers came back and tied it at 15 apiece, but the Chargers used a late 6-2 run to take the set 25-22. Grand Valley dominated set four, jumping out to a 13-4 advantage and never looking back, forcing a winner-take-all set five with a 25-12 set four win. GVSU carried that momentum over into the fifth set, winning 15-5 and never letting Hillsdale get a chance in the last set of the match.
 
Sarah Wight had a phenomenal opening game, garnering 19 kills on a .600 hitting percentage with three total blocks. Jaelianna Primus tallied 16 kills and five total blocks. Jordyn Gates recorded her fifth triple-double of the fall, notching 14 kills, 22 assists, and 17 digs. Rachel Jacquay had season-high 34 assists along with 10 digs. As a team, the Lakers swung at a .353 clip and recorded nine total blocks.
 
Lewis jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first set, but Grand Valley battled back to get it within three, the Flyers 7-2 to regain control and take set one 25-17. Set two was more back and forth until another late Lewis run allowed them to take the set 25-23. In set three, the Lakers were up 17-11 midway through the set, but a late 7-0 run from the Flyers allowed them to take the lead in the match and force extra points, where they won 26-24.
 
Kendall Stover led the team with nine kills against the Flyers, swinging at a .350 clip. Sarah Wight had six kills and two total blocks, while Meghan O'Sullivan also added six kills. Jordyn Gates and Rachel Jacquay each had 12 assists in the match, while Gates also had 17 digs. Jaelianna Primus had three solo blocks defensively, with Julia Blaney digging out 12 balls as well.
 
Up Next
The Lakers opponent and game time for tomorrow is still to be determined, and will be released later tonight once all the matches for the day have been completed.