Sept. 15, 2007

Box Score

#11 Grand Valley State won a tough battle over Northern Michigan on Saturday afternoon in the GVSU Fieldhouse by a 3-1 margin (30-24, 28-30, 30-21, 30-28). The Lakers improved to 13-2 overall and remain undefeated in the GLIAC with a perfect 3-0 record. The Wildcats drop to 6-7 overall and 0-1 in conference play. GVSU will hit the road for two GLIAC contests next weekend, playing at Saginaw Valley State on Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m. and Northwood on Sept. 22 at 4:00 p.m.

Northern Michigan jumped out to a 6-3 lead to open game one, but the Lakers came back to tie the game at 9-9. The two teams went back and forth until GVSU took a 21-18 lead. Grand Valley then went ahead 27-22 and scored three out of the final five points to take the 30-24 game one win.

The Lakers commanded game two early on to take a 14-9 lead. GVSU continued to hang on to its lead jumping ahead 20-15, but the Wildcats came back to tie the game at 23-23. Northern Michigan then went on a 5-0 run to take a 28-23 lead. Grand Valley fought back scoring the next four consecutive points to trail 28-27, but the Wildcats closed out the game with two out of the next three points.

Game three started out with the Lakers taking a 1-0 lead before the ball hit the court. Northern Michigan was penalized one point for not returning to the court on time for the start of game three. Grand Valley then went ahead 10-7, but the Wildcats tied the game at 15-15. GVSU went ahead 17-16 and then went on a 5-0 run to go up 22-16. The Lakers took a 25-19 lead and then scored the next three points to go ahead 28-19. Northern scored two points but couldn't get any closer as GVSU won the game, 30-21.

Northern Michigan lead, 5-2, early in game four, but GVSU came back to tie the game at 14-14. Grand Valley State went up 23-20, but the Wildcats then tied the game at 24-24. Northern Michigan then went up 27-26, but the Lakers came back to go up, 29-27. Grand Valley closed out the game and the match with a 30-28 game four win.

Grand Valley State hit .216 in the match and recorded 10 total blocks and seven service aces. The Wildcats hit just .121 with five blocks and four aces in the match. Junior outside hitter Lauren Reber tallied a career-high 20 kills, 10 digs, two assisted blocks, and a .360 hitting percentage. Senior middle blocker Erica Vandekopple added 15 kills, two aces, three digs, and two assisted blocks, while sophomore outside hitter Kaity Gormley recorded 10 kills, four digs, and five assisted blocks. Junior setter Jamie Ashmore posted six kills, 47 assists, and 13 digs and senior middle blocker Danielle Alexander had nine kills, four aces, six digs, and four assisted blocks. Junior libero recorded 39 digs and three assists, while sophomore outside hitter Katey Crichton added 16 digs.

Grand Valley State will travel to Saginaw Valley State and Northwood next weekend for two more GLIAC contests.