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Laker Volleyball Falls to Panthers Despite Strong Opening Set

Laker Volleyball Falls to Panthers Despite Strong Opening Set

Game Leaders

Lake Superior State
K: Emilee McDaniel - 14
B: Maggie Morris - 3
D: Ally Lasley - 17
SA: Maggie Morris - 1
Davenport
K: 3 Players (#3, #7, #22) - 11
B: 2 Players (#19, #20) - 4
D: Stephanie Kalinowski - 19
SA: Nicole Odeen - 3

Team Stats

Lake Superior State
Davenport

Hitting %

.155
.265

Blocks

5.0
7.0

Digs

52
56

Aces

1
11
full stats
Sep 22, 2023

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) volleyball team (2-9, 1-2 GLIAC) fell in four sets on the road to the Davenport Panthers (5-6, 2-1 GLIAC) on Friday.

The Lakers got off to a hot start in the opening set, racing to a 12-5 advantage behind a pair of kills from Mariana Velasque (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The Panthers cut the lead back down to five, but Emilee McDaniel (Manistique, Mich.) was there to halt them in their tracks with a pair of kills. Davenport would again start to close the gap, but after another kill from Velasque, the Lakers took the early advantage in the match by claiming the first set by a score of 25-20.

Davenport was able to seize momentum early in the second set, and despite kills from Valeriya Varnakova (Ufa, Russia) and true freshman Morgan Deming (Boyne City, Mich.), the Panthers would tie up the match at 1-1, taking the second set by a score of 25-18.

The Lakers continued to battle into the third set with several kills from McDaniel, but it would ultimately not be enough as the Panthers continued to press the attack to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

Davenport would push ahead to an early 6-0 lead in the fourth set, but multiple kills from Velasque had the Lakers right back within one with a 5-0 run of their own. Both teams would continue to battle for the remainder of the set with kills from McDaniel and Velasque keeping their team within striking distance. However, Davenport would ultimately close out the set by a score of 25-17 to win the match 3-1.

Despite the loss, McDaniel would lead all players on the attack with 14 kills while Velasque was able to produce double-digit kills of her own. Meanwhile, reigning GLIAC Setter of the Week Emily Kalinowski (South Lyon, Mich.) led all players with 34 assists while also earning 15 digs for the double double, and libero Ally Lasley (Birch Run, Mich.) led her team in digs with 17. 

The Lakers will be looking to bounce back on Saturday, Sept. 23 when they take on the Wayne State Warriors in Detroit with the first serve scheduled for 4 p.m.