Lakers take down Oilers in five sets
SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State and Findlay went to the wire in four out of five sets during Friday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference volleyball match at Bud Cooper Gymnasium. The Lakers fought back from a 10-8 deficit to win the final set and take the match, 25-23, 24-26, 26-24, 16-25, 16-14.
LSSU (2-16 overall, 2-8 GLIAC) totaled a season-high 61 kills with .211 attack percentage during the final set. Back-to-back kills by Samantha Gibbs tied the fifth set, 10-10. The Lakers went ahead 13-11 on kills by Jessica Ewer and Janelle Balkwill and never relinquished the lead. Sara Hess made it 14-12 with a kill. The Lakers picked up match point (15-14) on a Findlay service error, and Abby Shereda finished it off with a kill.
Hess and Gibbs compiled with 16 kills each, which were Laker season highs. Ewer totaled 11 kills, and Shereda had 10. Gibbs, who also achieved a career high in kills, posted a .361 attack percentage.
Balkwill totaled 47 assists. Brittany Newberry had 33 digs, followed by Ewer with 12. Hess added three block solos and one block assist.
Erin Thomasson led Findlay (6-13 overall, 2-8 GLIAC) with 16 kills.
The Lakers play host to Hillsdale at 2 p.m. Saturday.
