Megan Edmunds, LSSULakers.com
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. -- The Lake Superior State volleyball team will travel west to take on a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opponents this weekend.
The Lakers face Michigan Tech on Friday (7 p.m.) and then will play Northern Michigan on Saturday (4:30 p.m.).
LSSU currently holds a 5-17 overall record and is 2-9 against GLIAC opponents. Michigan Tech was most recently ranked 24th in the nation and is 18-4 with a 10-1 conference record, while Northern Michigan is 14-8 and 3-8.
Last Time Out:
The Lakers' last action was at the Midwest Region Crossover in Indianapolis where they went 2-1 on the weekend. They picked up wins against Ursuline (3-2) and Trevecca Nazarene (3-0) and fell to Ohio Valley (3-2).
By The Numbers:
Junior Amana Reid leads the Lakers with 262 kills (3.01/set) and ranks ninth in the GLIAC in total kills. Kelly Walter is second with 150, and Camdyn Odykirk has 114.
In digs, senior libero Paige Gotham has notched 374 to lead LSSU's defense. She ranks seventh in total digs and is 9th with 4.30 per set. Reid is next up with 286 digs thus far, and senior Mikala Williams has 265.
Senior setter Lauren Lukasik leads the way in assists with 369. Freshman Halle Grulke is next up with 273.
As a team, the Lakers are hitting .103 and have accumulated 866 kills. The team's digs total of 1,412 is good for fifth in the GLIAC.
Scouting the Huskies:
Michigan Tech competed in the Midwest Region Crossover last weekend and went 2-1. The Huskies picked up wins over Truman State and Tiffin, both by scores of 3-1, and then fell to Rockhurst 3-1.
The Huskies' hitting percentage of .255 ranks them first in the GLIAC, and they fall second in kills with 1,211. Olivia Ghormley leads the conference in kills with 400. Megan Utlak, Michigan Tech's digs leader, is fourth in the conference with 388.
Scouting the Wildcats:
Northern Michigan also took part in the Midwest Region Crossover and won all three matches. They defeated both Cedarville and Southern Indiana by a 3-1 final and beat Missouri S&T in three sets.
The Wildcats have a .205 hitting percentage, tabbing them sixth in the GLIAC. Their 1,091 kills leave them at fourth in the conference.
Autumn Monsma leads Northern Michigan in kills with 243, ranking 12th in the conference. Rachel Braunschweig leads the Wildcats' defense with 324 digs, good for 10th in the conference.
Up Next:
The Lakers return home for a pair of games Oct. 26-27. On Friday, they host Northwood (6:30 p.m.) and then face Ferris State on Saturday (2 p.m.).
Tickets are available online at lssulakers.com or in-person at the LSSU ticket office. For additional ticket information call (906) 635-2601.
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