AURORA, Ill. – The Lake Superior State volleyball team finished up their weekend at the Midwest Region Crossover with a 1-2 record against their non-conference foes. After falling 3-1 to Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) opponent Missouri S&T in their first game of their Saturday doubleheader (24-26, 25-22, 25-18, 29-27), the Lakers rebounded to defeat the Great Midwest Athletic Conference's (GMAC) Ohio Dominican Panthers (3-18, 2-7 GMAC) in four sets (25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 25-19).
Missouri S&T Miners 3, Lakers 1
Starting off the day against the Miners, the Lakers claimed victory in the first set 26-24. While the teams traded points throughout the set, Missouri S&T gradually built a 24-22 lead, putting them on the verge on winning. The Lakers fought back with kills by Amanda Reid and Jen Marren to tie the set. A service ace by Reid, followed by another kill from Marren, earned the Lakers the victory in set one.
Unfortunately, the Lakers were unable to claim another set from the Miners, as the Miners (8-14, 1-8 GLVC) took the second set 25-22. A six point run enabled Missouri S&T to erase a four point deficit and take a 22-20 lead, a lead from which the Lakers could not surmount.
Missouri S&T got off to a hot start in set number three, leading the Lakers by as many as nine points on their way to a 25-18 win. Lake Superior attempted to overcome their deficit by reeling off four straight points, but the point difference was ultimately too much to overcome.
In the fourth set, sported higher kill percentages than in the previous sets, as the Miners had a .250 kill percentage, while Lake Superior had a .282. The Lakers had a chance to claim victory in the set when they went up 24-23, but the Miners came back to send the set past 25 points. An attack error put the Lakers in position to collect the win. S&T, however, scored the next three points to win the set 29-27, and win the match 3-1.
Lake Superior was led by Brooke Williams with 13 points and 11 kills. Paige Gotham had 22 digs for the Lakers.
The Miners were led by Payton Gannaway with 17.5 points and 16 kills. Carlie Combs and Corinne Stulce each had 18 digs.
Lakers 3, Ohio Dominican 1
The Lakers rebounded from their loss against Missouri S&T to defeat Ohio Dominican in the afternoon game, downing their former GLIAC opponent 3-1. Lake Superior claimed the first set 25-22 after jumping out to an 11-4 lead. The Panthers battled back, making it 22-20 late in favor of the Lakers. A 3-2 run from that point earned Lake Superior the set, capped off by an Amanda Reid kill.
In the second set, the score was tied at 16 before the Bobcats capitalized on a seven point run. Although Ohio Dominican held a 24-17 lead, the Lakers scored the next five points to close the gap. The Bobcats' Kelly Nadler scored a kill to even the match up at one set apiece.
Set number three was a back and forth affair right up until both teams were in the twenties, points-wise. A kill from Kyra Vezina put the Lakers within reach before another kill, this time from Amanda Reid, gave the Lakers the set.
In the final set, both teams went on numerous scoring runs. After a 3 point run by the Panthers tied it up at 19 all, Lake Superior claimed the next six points for the win. Coming out of a timeout with the score 22-19 Lakers, Lauren Lukasik made three straight service aces to get the Lakers the set and match wins.
In the second game of the day, the Lakers were led by Reid and Vezina with 18 points each. Reid also had 17 digs, while Vezina led with 17 kills. As a team, the Lakers had 15 total blocks, with Caitlyn Kane tallying three.
Ohio Dominican was led by Kelly Nadler with 15.5 points and 14 kills. Anna Ficker had 20 digs.
The Lakers are back in action on Friday, October 20th, when they take on the GLIAC's other Lakers, Grand Valley in Allendale, Michigan. Lake Superior returns home on October 27th to face Upper Peninsula rival Northern Michigan at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Norris Center Ticket Office or online at lssulakers.com/tickets.