SAULT STE. MARIE- Lake Superior State volleyball suffered a 3-0 defeat on their home court of Cooper Gymnasium Friday evening (Sep. 30) against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe Ashland. The Eagles (10-5, 4-2 GLIAC) took the first set in a close 25-19 affair before dispatching LSSU 25-10 in the second set and 25-13 in the third and final set.
The Lakers move to 1-13 overall with the loss and are now 0-6 in GLIAC play this season.
During the first set both teams put up respectable attacking numbers with the Eagles holding a slight edge in kills 14-12, while both sides had only four errors. Ashland produced a first set attack percentage of .357 on their 28 attacks and the Lakers recorded a .276 percent on 29 attacks. While facing set-point, the Lakers scored three straight points to extend the set but were finally turned away with a kill by Michaela Ping (AU).
In the second set the Eagles used a pair of 6-0 runs and one stretch of five-straight points to claim the middle frame 25-10. Ashland racked up 13 kills and only one error (.480) in the second set as the Lakers combined for four kills and four errors (.000).
LSSU stormed out of the gates in the third set and scored four straight points to go up 8-4 before Ashland took a timeout. Out of the break, the Eagles went on a 5-2 run before an LSSU timeout that was then followed by 11 consecutive Ashland points. In total, the Eagles scored 15 consecutive points to claim a 20-10 advantage that they parlayed into a 25-13 victory in the final frame.
Junior Karlee Weissend led the LSSU attack with four kills. Lauren Lukasik, Jena Tulgestke, Elizabeth Ballor and Morgan Kelley each contributed three kills for the Lakers. Lukasik led the team with seven assists, followed by Madison Castle's six assists.
The Eagles were led by a 12-kill output from Ali Cudworth and Shelby Wycik's eight kills. Setter Kayla Pfeiffer had 31 assists on the evening.
The Lakers conclude the weekend homestand hosting Tiffin at 2 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 1). Active and retired military personnel, and first responders will be the Lakers' special guests with full-time and part-time employees affiliated with all local fire, law enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs, as well as area Coast Guard, National Guard, reserves, recruiters and veterans receiving a free ticket to the match. Proper identification is requested.
LSSU volleyball tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children 17-and-under. Groups of 10 or more will receive a 20 percent discount.
