ALLENDALE, MICH. – The Grand Valley State women's volleyball team prepares for the Midwest Regional Crossover tournament this weekend in Hammond, Indiana. The Lakers will play Cedarville and Drury on Friday, then will play a third game on Saturday against an opponent that will be determined following Friday's matches.
 
Cedarville: Live Stats | Video | Friday | 12:30 PM EST/11:30 AM CT
Drury: Live Stats | Video | Friday | 5:30 PM EST/4:30 PM CT
 
Coming off a strong 3-0 week, the Lakers look to continue their momentum into the crossover. GVSU defeated SVSU in five sets last Tuesday, then took down Hillsdale and Roosevelt in home sweeps on Friday. Gabby Orlet earned her third GLIAC Setter of the Week honor, after she had 107 assists, 21 digs, 12 kills, six service aces, and five blocks. Finley Arp led the way with 26 kills in the matches, with Kennedy Arp and Paige Sanders each had 25 kills, and Brianna Stawski added 23. Lexi Armstrong had 45 digs, and as a team GVSU served 28 service aces, including a season-high 11 versus Roosevelt.
 
The Lakers and Yellow Jackets met earlier this year in the Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic, with GVSU sweeping Cedarville. They won 25-22, 25-15, and 25-10 across the three sets. Kennedy Arp notched 10 kills on a .563 hitting percentage, with Paige Sanders adding nine on a .692 swing percentage. Gabby Orlet dished out 35 assists, with Lexi Armstrong had 14 digs. GVSU swung .302 during the match, compared to just .030 for the Yellow Jackets. These two teams also played in last season's crossover, with Cedarville winning in four sets.
 
After starting the season 2-5, the Yellow Jackets have gotten on track over the past few weeks, going 7-3 since the second weekend of September. One of the keys to their turnaround has been their blocking. Cedarville ranks fourth in the country with 2.65 blocks per set, and their 164 total blocks is 21^st. During their tough start, the allowed five opponents to hit .200 or better, but since then only one team has hit over .200, with four hitting .120 or lower. Outside hitter Madelyn Hensley is the reigning GMAC and NCAA Player of the week, as she increased her team-lead in kills with 48 over the weekend. She is the main offensive weapon, as she has almost 60 more kills than the next Yellow Jacket, and she is one of two who has recorded over 100 kills this year.
 
For the first time since 2019, the Lakers will take on Drury. The Panthers have started the season 14-4, their best start since the 2018 campaign. At 5-2 in league play, DU is fourth in the GLVC standings, two and a half games back of first. Drury has one of the best defenses in the region, holding opponents to a .135 hitting percentage, and recording 18.3 digs per set, ranking fifth nationally. The Panthers have a balanced offensive attack, with three players averaging over 2.6 kills per set. In her first season, head coach Kelly Richardson looks to bring Drury back to NCAA postseason play for the first time since 2018.
 
How to Follow
Both games on Friday will be available to follow along with via live stats or live stream through BallerTV. For full coverage, follow along on social media @gvsuvolley and online at GVSUlakers.com.