ALLENDALE, MICH. – For the first time this season, the Grand Valley State women's volleyball team will play at home, hosting the Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic. The tournament will feature six teams playing eight games, with four featuring the Lakers. GVSU will play one game on Thursday afternoon, two on Friday, the one final game Saturday evening.
 
Tournament Central
Northwood: Live Stats | Video | Tickets | Thursday | 2:00 PM
Post: Live Stats | Video | Tickets | Friday | 1:00 PM
Cedarville: Live Stats | Video | Tickets | Friday | 7:00 PM
Seton Hill: Live Stats | Video | Tickets | Saturday | 4:00 PM
 
The Lakers enter the weekend after going 3-1 at the Bentley Tournament last weekend and rose to 20^th in the country. They defeated three ranked teams while in Massachusetts, the first time in program history that they have beaten ranked opponents in three consecutive matches. Gabby Orlet dished out 172 assists across the four games, helping her earn GLIAC Setter of the Week honors for the third time in her career. Her most consistent target was freshman Finley Arp, who had a team-high 52 kills. On the backend, Lexi Armstrong posted 80 digs from her libero position. Over the previous three years at the Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic, the Lakers have posted a record of 10-1, with seven of those wins coming via a sweep.
 
The first game of the tournament features the Lakers and the Timberwolves of Northwood. Northwood went 1-2 at the Wayne State Invitational, defeating Quincy in the season opener, before falling to IUP and Wayne State. Four Timberwolves have totaled over 20 kills this season, led by Olivia Nestor's 34 on a .245 hitting percentage. NU splits time at setter between Avery Dubey and Kyden Ehle, who each have over 50 assists. The Lakers and Timberwolves last played two seasons ago, once again in GVSU's home opener, winning in five sets.
 
On Friday afternoon, GVSU takes on Post out of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference. The Eagles went 1-3 over their opening weekend at the Long Island Invitational, only defeating Molloy. After making the second round of the NCAA tournament a season ago, the Eagles graduated their team leaders in kills, assists, digs, and service aces, setting up a very young team in 2026. Over their first four games, Post struggled disrupting their opponents at the net, letting opponents swing at a .244 clip, while hitting just .130 themselves. This will be the first time in program history, that these two teams will face off against each other.
 
In the final game of Friday's action, GVSU will take on in-region foe Cedarville. At their own tournament last weekend, the Yellow Jackets went 1-2, playing all ranked opponents. They defeated #24 UMSL in the opener, then fell in five sets to #23 Gannon and in a sweep to top-ranked Concordia-St. Paul. Outside hitter Madelyn Hensley was named to the All-Tournament Team after leading CU with 39 kills, totaling double-digit kills in every match. Cedarville is the two-time reigning GMAC Champions and were selected as the preseason champions in the league's coaches' poll. Last season, the Lakers and Yellow Jackets met up at the Midwest Regional Crossover Tournament, with Cedarville coming away victorious in four sets.
 
Closing out the tournament will be a matchup against Seton Hill. The Griffins are the lone undefeated team in the field this weekend, after going 3-0 at the Storm Volleyball Classic, beating Point Park, Lake Erie, and Slippery Rock. Senior middle hitter Catie Flohr was named the PSAC's Athlete of the Week after totaling 55 kills on a .404 hitting percentage across three matches. This will be just the second time that the Griffins and Lakers will have met in program history, with the last one coming in 2012.
 
How to Follow
All four games this weekend will be available to follow along with via live stats or live stream through the FloSports. For full coverage, follow along on social media @gvsuvolley and online at GVSUlakers.com.