SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) volleyball team (7-19, 4-11 GLIAC) came back to defeat the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers (16-10, 10-5 GLIAC) in five sets on Friday.

Both teams battled early in the opening set, but the Lakers were able to pull ahead with an 8-1 run. Maggie Morris (Schoolcraft, Mich.) would then propel her team to another run of 4-1 with a pair of kills and a service ace to extend LSSU's lead to ten points. The Rangers would try to rally, but back-to-back kills from Emilee McDaniel (Manistique, Mich.) helped to deliver the Lakers the opening set by a score of 25-16.

The Lakers were able to take a slim lead early in the second set, but the Rangers were able to seize the momentum with multiple scoring runs. LSSU tried to rally late with a 6-1 run that featured an ace from Morris, but it would not be enough as Parkside was able to tie up the match at 1-1.

Both teams went back and forth early in the third set, but multiple 3-0 Laker scoring spurts had LSSU leading 10-6. However, Ranger runs of 5-1 and 5-0 swung the game in their favor before a kill from Hannah Callaway (Portage, Mich.) tied up the score at 18-18, but after battling to a 23-23 stalemate, the Rangers were able to narrowly steal the set by a score of 25-23.

The Rangers claimed an 8-5 lead early in the fourth set, but back-to-back kills from Callaway helped LSSU to a 4-0 run to retake the lead. The Lakers would then continue to press the attack with an 8-2 run that featured back-to-back kills from McDaniel. Parkside was able to rally to tie the score at 23-23, but Mariana Velasque (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) halted them in their tracks, closing out the set with back-to-back kills. 

Wisconsin-Parkside took the early advantage in the fifth set, extending their lead to 10-5. However, the Lakers came storming back as Velasque scored five-consecutive kills before completing the comeback, putting the set and the match away by respective scores of 15-12 and 3-2.

Velasque led the way offensively with 20 kills on the day while McDaniel also notched double-digit kills with 15. Emily Kalinowski (South Lyon, Mich.) finished with a game-high 49 assists while also recording 12 digs for the double-double. Meanwhile, Ally Lasley (Birch Run, Mich.) and Jordyn Haller (Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) also finished with double-digit digs with 24 and 14, respectively. 

The Lakers return to action on Sunday, Nov. 5 when they host the Grand Valley State Lakers in Bud Cooper Gymnasium with the first serve scheduled for 2 p.m.