GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Lake Superior State women's volleyball team took on Davenport, one of the newest members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), on Friday, October 6th. The Lakers (1-13, 0-8 GLIAC) fell to the Panthers (8-8, 4-4 GLIAC) in straight sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-16).
During the first set, the Lakers and Panthers traded points back and forth, as the set remained close early. A Kasey Stehouwer service error tied the set at 12 points apiece. From there, however, Davenport scored the next three points, gradually pulling away from Lake Superior. After Davenport took a 24-19 lead, a kill by senior middle blocker Elizabeth Ballor, followed by a block by Ballor and Jena Tulgestke kept the Lakers alive. A kill by the Panthers' Laura Bouwkamp ended the first set 25-21 in favor of the home team.
Set number two started off much like the previous set, with back and forth action. Lake Superior took the lead on another kill by Ballor, making it 8-7. The lead was short lived, however, as the Panthers rebounded to reclaim the lead. A service error by Lake State's Madison Castle put Davenport one point away from claiming the set, but the Lakers again refused to go quietly. The Lakers rattled off the next three points, making the score 24-22, before Davenport claimed the final point and set victory.
The third set was a set of runs, as the Panthers jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, only for the Lakers to respond with a 5-0 run of their own. Things settled down for a bit afterwards, as the teams began battling point for point. Following a kill from Kyra Vezina, however, Davenport went on a 8-2 run to end the set, winning it 25-16, and claiming the match 3-0.
Lake Superior was led by Vezina and Amanda Reid, who had eight kills apiece. Ballor and Caitlyn Kane each registered three blocks, while libero Paige Gotham had 23 digs.
The Panthers were piloted by Jessica Marvin with nine kills and five blocks, Kasey Stehouwer with 23 digs, and Sydney Tracer with 19 assists.
The Lakers are back in action Saturday, October 7th, as they travel to Purdue Northwest, another GLIAC newcomer. The Pride (5-13, 1-7 GLIAC) are coming off a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Saginaw Valley. Game time is 2 p.m.