SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) volleyball team (8-21, 5-13 GLIAC) came away with a thrilling five-set win over the Michigan Tech Huskies (13-15, 9-8 GLIAC) to play their way into the GLIAC tournament. 

The Huskies came out swinging, jumping out to a 5-2 lead in the opening set, but the Lakers fought back with runs of 5-1 and 4-1 behind multiple kills from senior Emilee McDaniel (Manistique, Mich.). Michigan Tech cut the lead down to one, but a service ace from Sydney Briney (St. Joseph, Mich.) capped off a 5-0 LSSU run to go up 19-13. The Huskies rallied to get back within three, but the Lakers halted them in their tracks with a 4-1 run as a kill from Mariana Velasque (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) put the set away by a score of 25-19.

The Huskies raced to a 9-3 lead in the second set, but the Lakers battled back to within one as McDaniel and Velasque combined for a pair of blocks. Michigan Tech was able to pull back in front, but the Lakers once again rallied to tie the score at 19-19. However, despite a kill from Hannah Callaway (Portage, Mich.) to get back to 23-24, the Huskies were able to close out the set and tie up the match at 1-1.

The Lakers raced out to a 13-5 lead in the third set behind multiple kills from Velasque and back-to-back aces from Emily Kalinowski (South Lyon, Mich.). The Huskies were able to rally and get back to within two late, but after settling down with a timeout, McDaniel closed out the set at 25-22.

Michigan Tech used an early 6-0 run to pull ahead in the fourth set. The Lakers would keep fighting to keep the score close, but the Huskies did not relinquish the lead on their way to forcing a decisive fifth set. 

LSSU claimed a 7-3 lead in the fifth set after a service ace from Ally Lasley (Birch Run, Mich.). The Huskies got back to within two, but the Lakers then pressed their attack without letting up, closing out the set and the match with a 6-1 run as a block from McDaniel and Velasque gave the Lakers the victory and a spot in the GLIAC tournament.

Velasque led the way offensively with 21 kills while being involved in seven blocks, and McDaniel notched 19 kills and nine block assists as well. Lasley led all players in digs with 25 with Briney recording 16. Meanwhile, Kalinowski came away with a career-high 59 assists in the victory.

The Lakers will now turn their attention to the postseason when they will travel to take on top-seeded Grand Valley in the GLIAC quarterfinals.