SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State University women's volleyball team had its season home opener spoiled as the Saginaw Valley State handed the Lakers a 3-1 loss (25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 25-20) this Tuesday (Sept. 19) evening in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) match play at LSSU's Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
Lake Superior State drops to 1-8 overall this season and 0-3 in the GLIAC while Saginaw Valley State improves to 2-9 overall and 1-2 in conference action.
Senior outside hitter Brooke Williams compiled a team-high 11 kills while freshman outside hitter Kyra Vezina had 10 and sophomore outside hitter Amanda Reid recorded nine digs as the Lakers hit for a .116 while Saginaw Valley State registered a .234 hitting efficiency.
Directing the LSSU offense was senior setter Madison Castle, who posted 20 assists in the match, and junior setter Lauren Lukasik supplied 15 assists. On the defensive end, Amanda Reid and senior libero-defensive specialist Justice Kjolhede garnered 11 digs apiece to lead the way. Redshirt junior libero Paige Gotham managed to extend her current double-digit digs match streak to nine straight with a 10-digs performance
Saginaw Valley State featured two individuals with double-figure kills, led by Sarah Tabit's match-high 19 total and Emily Friesl hammered 15 kills as the Cardinals would register a 53-45 kills advantage.
Both teams registered their best hitting performances in the first set as the visiting Cardinals connected on .323 percent (15-5-31) of their attempts and the Lakers posted a .241 hit efficiency rate (12-5-29).
The second set saw Lake Superior State even the match at one apiece with a 25-20 decision as the hosts produced a .226 hitting percentage (12-5-31). Lake State broke a 20-all deadlock in a dominating way by scoring the set's final five points which included a pair of junior setter Lauren Lukasik service aces and a Kyra Vezina kill in between. The second frame featured 10 tied scores and four lead changes.
In set three, SVSU eclipsed the .200 mark in hitting percentage for the third consecutive set by turning in a .219 rate and led from start to finish. The Lakers managed to narrow their deficit to four but were unable to get any closer as a .032 attack percentage hampered a comeback effort.
The fourth set, which consisted of seven ties and five lead changes, saw the Cardinals go on an 11-3 scoring run to snap a 10-10 tie and post a 21-13 lead. The Lakers reeled off six unanswered points to pull within 21-19, but SVSU scored four of the set's last five points to take the conference road decision.
The Lakers continue their current five-match conference homestand this Friday (Sept. 22) evening as the Ashland Eagles visit LSSU's Bud Cooper Gymnasium in a 7 p.m. (EDT) contest.
