Cullen Maksimowski, LSSULakers.com
MARQUETTE, Mich.—Competing in the Wildcat Open at Northern Michigan University, the Lake Superior State volleyball team dropped its first two matches of the four-game tournament Friday falling to non-conference Minnesota-Crookston (2-3) and St. Cloud State (0-3).
With the losses, the Lake State slips to 0-6 overall to start the 2018 season. They will close out the tournament tomorrow as they take on No.1-ranked Minnesota-Duluth at 11 a.m. and Bemidji State at 5 p.m.
Game 1:
The Lakers jumped out to an early lead taking the opening set, 25-22, before the Golden Eagles responded with victories in sets two and three (25-17, 25-23).
LSSU drew the match even with a 25-18 win in set four before coming up short, 13-15, in the fifth and final set.
Lake Superior finished the match with a .088 hitting percentage while Crookston posted a .102 mark.
Junior outside Amanda Reid paced the Laker offensive attack notching 16 kills to go with a .200 hitting percentage. Sophomore Sarah Bailey tallied a career-high 12 kills.
Senior setter Lauren Lukasik posted a team-high 35 assists in the match.
Defensively, Reid led the team in digs with 23 while senior libero Paige Gotham finished with 19.
Deaira Gresham led offense for the Golden Eagles with 15 kills. Callie Schapekahm and Kaitlin Sikkink each posted 10.
Game 2:
In game two, The Lakers couldn't find a rhythm against the Huskies falling in straight-sets (18-25, 19-25, 14-25).
LSSU finished the match with .101 hitting percentage. SCS posted a .211 clip.
Bailey led the way on offense with eight kills in the match. Kelly Walter was second with 7 kills to go with her team-high .500 hitting percentage.
Gotham led LSSU on defense with 12 digs while freshman Abby Beachnau finished with 10.
The Huskies were led offensively by Abby Templin who finished with 13 kills. Micah Nier was second with eight. The Lakers finished the match with a .112 hitting percentage. Rollins finished with a .092 percentage.
The Lakers will open their home and conference schedule on Sept. 7 with a matchup against Northern Michigan at 6:30 p.m.
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