The Grand Valley State women's volleyball team is set to open their season this weekend with a trip up to Big Rapids for the Ferris State Invitational on Saturday. The Lakers will take on Thomas More at 2:00 pm and Malone at 5:00 pm on Saturday.
 
The Lakers are coming off a season in which they went 19-13 and 10-8 in GLIAC play, as they advanced to GLIAC Tournament Championship game as the six seed, knocking off Davenport and Northern Michigan along the way. The Lakers were selected second in the preseason GLIAC poll released last week. They were also receiving votes in the preseason AVCA poll.
 
GVSU returns four All-GLIAC performers, including first-teamer Jordyn Gates, second-teamers Kendall Stover and Sarah Wight, and honorable mention performer Rachel Jacquay. Gates was also named AVCA All-Region and Honorable Mention All-American as she led the NCAA with 13 triple-doubles and led the Lakers with 358 kills and 417 digs, while also having 654 assists. Stover added 338 kills and 216 digs, while Wight led the team with 90 blocks and recorded 285 kills. Jacquay dished out a team-high 701 assists as well as 27 service aces. The Lakers return seven other letterwinners from last season as well.
 
For the first time in program history, GVSU will take on Thomas More, as the Saints are in their first season in the GMAC. They were selected to finish sixth in the South Division of the conference in their inaugural year being a Division II school. Last year in the NAIA, the Saints went 17-12 and lost in the first round of their conference tournament. Thomas More return two all-conference players in setter Sam McClanahan and libero Asia Ferrando. McClanahan was also an All-Region selection as she tallied 1,045 assists, while Ferrando dug out 552 balls. They also return their top attacker from a season ago in Sydney Hiderbran who led the team with 256 kills.
 
Malone is coming off an 11-19 season last year and they were picked to finish fifth in the GMAC North Division preseason poll. The Pioneers return their lone All-Conference player from a season ago in defensive specialist Macy McCauley who led the team with 554 digs. Also returning are their two top setters in Molly Bullion and Gabby Pelfrey who combined for almost 1,000 assists. The Pioneers graduated their top four attackers from a season ago, leaving Gabi Smith as their top returner, as she tallied 164 kills last year. Malone and GVSU faced each other early last season as well in the Gannon/Mercyhurst Invitational, with the Lakers taking the win in four sets.
 
Live stats and live video will be available for tomorrow's match. For full coverage of the game, including live in-game updates, follow @GVSUVOLLEY on Twitter and visit gvsulakers.com.