LSSU Volleyball Opens Home, GLIAC Schedule This Weekend

Laker VB Hudle


Cullen Maksimowski, LSSULakers.com

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.—After competing in a pair of non-conference tournaments to open the 2018 season, the Lake Superior State volleyball team will open its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schedule this weekend inside the Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

On Friday, the Lakers (1-7) will play host to undefeated (8-0) and No.23-ranked Northern Michigan followed by a matchup with Michigan Tech (6-2) on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Last Time Out:
Lake State went 1-3 last weekend at the Wildcat Open dropping matches to Minnesota-Crookston (2-3), St. Cloud State (0-3) and then No.1 ranked Minnesota-Duluth (0-3) before picking up their first win of the season in a five-set battle with Bemidji State.

By The Numbers:
Junior outside hitter Amanda Reid has led the way on offense this season with a team-high 84 kills (2.63/set) and is No.3 in attack percentage at .139. Reid was selected to the Wildcat Open All-Tournament Team last weekend after posting 43 kills and 48 digs.

Freshman middle blocker Kelly Walter is second on the team with 57 kills on the season and leads the team with a .215 hitting percentage.

Defensively, senior libero Paige Gotham leads the team and ranks No.7 in the GLIAC with 127 digs this season. Reid is second with 108 digs while senior Mikala Williams has posted 99.

At the setter position, freshman Halle Grulke leads the team with 115 assists with senior Lauren Lukasik trailing close behind with 113.

As a team, the Lakers are hitting at a.095 clip with 315 total kills to start the season. LSSU ranks No.3 in the league in total digs (543) and digs per set (16.97).

Scouting the Wildcats:
NMU has gotten off to a fast start to the new season as they've made it through their first eight games unblemished which included an upset of No.1 Minnesota-Duluth (3-1) last weekend.

Northern leads the GLIAC standings in hitting percentage (.274) and are tied for third in total kills with 430.

Leticia Antunes paces the Wildcats offense and ranks No.3 in the conference with 114 total kills. Sarah Kuehn leads the team and the GLIAC with a .405 hitting percentage. 

Scouting The Huskies:
The Huskies have gotten off solid start to the season with just two narrow five-set losses to Alaska Anchorage and St. Cloud State on the books. MTU pulled off an upset of No.1-ranked Minnesota-Duluth at the Wildcat Open last weekend.

Michigan Tech will take on Saginaw Valley (6-2) on the road Friday in their conference opener.

MTU enters the weekend tied for No.1 in the GLIAC in total kills (430) and are No.2 with a .244 hitting percentage

Leading the Huskies offensive attack is Olivia Ghormley who paces the conference in both total kills (133) and kills per set (4.29).

Tickets:
Tickets for all Lakers home games are available online at lssulakers.com or at the Norris Center ticket office. For more information, call 906-635-2601.

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