KENOSHA, Wisc. - The Lake Superior State women's volleyball team closed out the first day of the Hampton Inn Invitational hosted by Wisconsin Parkside falling in both matches to the No. 11 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs and the Quincy Hawks. 

Against the Bulldogs, the Lakers lost in three sets by scores of 25-19, 25-16, and 25-20. Lake Superior State's second match of the day also ended in a 3-0 defeat as Quincy won by scores of 25-20, 25-19, and 25-9. 

Lakers v. No. 11 Minnesota Duluth

The Lakers had a strong start in their rematch of the Bulldogs, trailing 19-18 in the later stages of the opening set. However, UMD would score six of the set's next seven points to take the opening set by a score of 25-19. 

In the second set, the Lakers held an early 6-5 lead over the Bulldogs but the No. 11 team would string together eight straight points to take a 13-6 advantage. LSSU responded and came within three points (17-14) of the Bulldogs. UMD secured the second set by a score of 25-16. 

The Bulldogs built a six-point over the Lakers in the third set (8-2). Lake Superior State pulled within four points later in the set (15-11) and would string together a late rally of five straight points against the Bulldogs to trail 22-18. UMD clinched the set, and match win, with a 25-20 victory.

Stat Leaders: Junior outside hitter Ally Gruber continued her strong start to open the season as she led the Lakers with a team-leading 12 kills and 14 digs in the match. Taylor Fleming ranked second on the team in kills with seven as she registered a .312 kill percentage in the match. Laker setter Halle Grulke tallied 27 assists against the Bulldogs. Sophomore libero Emily Hagelthorn followed Gruber in digs with 13 against UMD.

Lakers v. Quincy

The Lakers matched up even with the Hawks to open the first set as the two teams were deadlocked at 14 points apiece. Quincy took a 19-14 lead but the Lakers scored three straight points to pull within two points (19-17). The Hawks would hold onto the lead for the remainder of the set and held a 1-0 advantage in the match with a 25-20 win. 

LSSU scored the first four points of the second set before the Hawks responded with a run of five points to regain a 6-5 lead. The two teams traded a few points before Quincy tallied six consecutive points and 10 of the next 12 points (17-10). Lake Superior pulled within three points (17-14) following a four point run but the Hawks closed out the set with a 25-19 win. 

The Hawks offense was too much for the Lakers to overcome in the third set as Quincy won by a score of 25-9 to take the match in three sets. 

Stat Leaders: Fleming led the Lakers with eight kills against the Hawks while senior Camdyn Odykirk followed with six kills in the match. Bethany Wilson rounded out the top three Laker attackers with five kills against Quincy. Junior setter Emily Kalinowski led the team in assists with 16 while also adding two service aces. Gruber also added two aces. The Lakers finished the match with 38 digs as Hagelthorn led the team in the category with eight.

Up Next:

The Lakers will return to the De Simone Gymnasium tomorrow for a pair of matches. LSSU will take on Colorado Christian at 9:00 a.m. EST and Minnesota State at 3:45 p.m. EST.

More information on the Hampton Inn Invitational, including links to purchase the broadcast, can be found here.

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