The Grand Valley State volleyball team was at home for the first time in the 2016 season, but the Lakers did not stay in the Fieldhouse Arena very long on Saturday (Sept. 24). GVSU swept the visiting Walsh Cavaliers in one hour and 14 minutes for a 3-0 victory. The Lakers won by straight set scores of 25-16, 25-21, 25-16.

After 10 straight matches on road or neutral courts to start the campaign, GVSU returned to Allendale for its latest home opener since the 1996 season. Saturday's win pushes Grand Valley State to 7-4 overall and 2-1 in GLIAC play. Walsh - in its final season in the GLIAC - drops to 3-8 on the year and 0-4 in league action. 

GVSU is now 5-0 all time against the Cavaliers, with the last four matches in the series being 3-0 Laker sweeps.

Strong offensively on Saturday with 43 kills and just nine attack errors, Grand Valley State hit a season-high .312 in the victory, while Walsh committed 16 errors and hit just .170. The Cavaliers did post a 54-52 edge in digs, but GVSU led in aces (7-1) and blocks (5-2). 

One player from each team reached double-digits in kills, as freshman Jayci Suseland made the most of her first collegiate match in Allendale. The rookie totaled 11 kills in 19 swings, only committed one error, and hit .526. She added two blocks and two digs, one of which came off an intential deflection off of her foot - later on the same play, she also put down the kill.

Fellow freshman Kendall Yerkes totaled a match-best 14 digs, added eight kills and hit .353 in the win. Sophomore Brooke Smith recorded nine kills and six digs, while classmate Staci Brower hit .400 and posted seven kills in just 15 swings to go with two aces. 

Walsh held a 4-3 lead in set one before sophomore Kaylene Norris enterted the contest and served the Lakers out to a 9-4 lead, which included two kills from Brower and one apiece from Smith, Yerkes, and junior setter Katie Olson. Two kills from Yerkes and a Brower ace helped GVSU extend to a 14-7 advantage. The Lakers forced seven Walsh hitting errors in the opening frame, with the final one coming on a combined block from sophomores Danielle McCormick and Jillian Butsavich to end the set at 25-16.

GVSU opened an 8-2 cushion in set two, as Suseland and Brower put down two kills apiece. However, Walsh scored the next six points to knot the set at 8-8. The score was tied again at 13-13 before Smith put down three kills and helped the Lakers open an 18-14 advantage. The Cavaliers pulled within a point at 21-20 before sophomore Taylor Stewart dished an assist to Butsavich for a kill and Olson fed Yerkes and Suseland for consecutive putdowns and a 24-20 lead. Yerkes would end the set two points later with the last of GVSU's 20 kills in the frame.

The Lakers raced out to a 10-2 advantage in set three, with Suseland contributing four kills and combining with Butsavich on a block. Olson and senior Amanda Glaza each served an ace in the opening run. GVSU held a comfortable edge that grew to 20-10 after another Glaza ace and a McCormick kill. Walsh made a late run, but freshman Madilyn Keller ended the match with a kill to give the Lakers a 25-16 win and a match sweep.

Olson delivered 29 assists and picked up 11 digs for her fifth double-double of the year, while Glaza posted eight digs and three service aces. Butsavich led the Lakers with three blocks (one solo) and two kills in just five attempts. 

Grand Valley State will remain at home for Tuesday night's (Sept. 27) rivalry match against Ferris State, with the match beginning at 7:00 p.m.