Grand Valley State opened day two of competition at the Vulcan Invitational in California, Pa. against the host school and it took the Lakers just 67 minutes to sweep the Vulcans in straight sets. GVSU used its best offensive performance of the season to post the 3-0 win (25-16, 25-17, 25-21) on Saturday morning (Sept. 10).

The victory puts the Lakers back above .500 with a 4-3 record; it is the team's third straight victory, as Grand Valley State topped Adelphi in five sets and swept Davis & Elkins on Friday afternoon. California (PA) loses for just the second time in 2016, as the Vulcans are 6-2.

For the third straight match, GVSU posted its season-high in hitting percentage. The Lakers hit .274 against Adelphi, slightly improved to .275 against Davis & Elkins, and notched a season-best .297 mark against Cal (PA) on Saturday. Grand Valley State put down 41 kills against just 14 errors for its near-.300 clip.

Defensively, the Lakers topped Cal (PA) in digs (40-29) and blocks (8.0 to 5.5), while keeping the Vulcans to a .095 hitting percentage (30 kills, 21 errors).

Sophomore Staci Brower kept up her terrific weekend of play, totaling 13 kills and just one error in 19 attacks for a .632 hitting percentage. The reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year added five blocks, including a solo rejection. 

Two Lakers - sophomore Brooke Smith and freshman Jayci Suseland - posted eight kills and committed just one error apiece. Smith hit .438 and added six digs, while Suseland connected at a .467 rate. 

Freshman Kendall Yerkes supplied nine digs, seven kills, and four block assists and junior setter Katie Olson handed out 34 assists and nearly missed a double-double with nine digs.

GVSU trailed 6-5 in set one before posting a huge 9-2 run to open a 13-7 advantage. Brower was instrumental during the surge, as she not only put away three kills, but also added three service aces, including back-to-back aces. Two kills from Suseland and another from sophomore Shannon Winicki made the lead 16-9, while Brower and Yerkes combined for a rejection later in the set to up the advantage to 20-12. A late block from Suseland and freshman Madilyn Keller put GVSU up 23-16 and the Lakers would close out the frame two points later.

Set two saw Grand Valley State use another early run to open a 10-3 cushion behind strong serving from senior Amanda Glaza and more production from Brower. GVSU scored four straight points on Brower kills, added another after a Vulcan error, and combined with Yerkes for a block to push the Lakers in front, 9-2. Smith put down consecutive kills from Olson to extend the advantage to 13-5. GVSU looked to be in control at 21-13 before the Vulcans ran off four consecutive points, making the score 21-17. Cal (PA) was forced into three errors and Suseland smashed a kill to finish off the set, 25-17.

The third set was the most competitive throughout, but the Lakers pushed a 10-9 lead out to a 14-10 advantage with kills from Yerkes and Smith. Cal (PA) would stay close and get within two points at 17-15 before a Brower kill and a Vulcan error upped the lead to 19-15. Suseland added two late kills for GVSU to hold off the Vulcans and complete the straight set sweep.

Freshman Sydney Benchley picked up eight digs, a pair of assists, and an ace, while Winicki supplied three kills in seven swings and notched a pair of solo rejections.

GVSU looks to complete a perfect 4-0 weekend when the Lakers face Winston-Salem State at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.