KENOSHA, Wisc. - The Lake Superior State women's volleyball team fell in both matches on the second day of Wisconsin Parkside's Hampton Inn Invitational in Kenosha, Wisc. on Saturday, Sept. 11. The Lakers lost in four sets to the Colorado Christian Cougars (19-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-19), and fell to the Minnesota State Mavericks in four sets (20-25, 25-7, 25-13, 25-20).
Lakers v. Colorado Christian
Lake Superior State started off the second day at the Hampton Inn Invitational with a 25-19 opening set win over the Cougars. The Lakers and Cougars were evenly matched to start the set as the score was tied at nine. With the set tied at 15, the Lakers would score seven of the next nine points to take a 20-17 lead. LSSU held off Colorado Christian in the late stages of the set to secure a 25-19 victory to start the day of competition.
The Cougars responded with three straight 25-19 set wins of their own to take the match in four sets. In the second set, the Lakers trailed by one point (10-9) before Colorado Christian began to extend the lead to eventually hold a 20-13 lead. The Lakers pulled within four points (23-19) late in the set but the Cougars closed out the set.
The Lakers jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the third set before the Cougars would tie the game at 11. With the set tied 17-17, Colorado Christain went on a six point run (23-17) and would take a 2-1 lead in the match with the 25-19 win.
In the fourth and final set between the Lakers and Cougars, the score was even at 12 as the Lakers came back from an early 5-0 deficit. Despite the tied score, the Lakers could not take the lead in the set and the Cougars held on for a 25-19 win.
Stat Leaders: Senior Bethany Wilson led the Lakers with 11 kills in the match, setting a new single-game career high. Junior Taylor Fleming also recorded a double-digit kill total as well as a new single game career high as she tallied 10 kills against the Cougars. Ally Gruber, who has had a strong start to the year for the Lakers, rounded out the top three with nine kills against Colo. Christian. Emily Kalinowski led the Lakers with 22 assists.
Sophomore libero Emily Hagelthorn registered 32 of the team's 68 digs in the match. Hagelthorn doubled her previous single-game career-best in digs as she bested her mark of 16 digs from her freshman season (v. SVSU, 3/12/21). Hagelthorn also had a pair of aces against the Cougars.
Lakers v. Minnesota State
For the second consecutive match, the Lakers won the opening set. Lake Superior State fell 3-0 to start but responded with a run of six straight points to take a 6-3 lead. The Mavericks would come back throughout the set, including tying the set at 9-9, but the Lakers would never give up the lead. Lake Superior took a 1-0 lead in the match with the 25-20 first set win.
Minnesota State's offense took over in the second and third sets as the Mavericks won by convincing 25-7 and 25-13 margins.
The Lakers would try to force a decisive fifth set in the match but fell in the fourth set by a 25-20 score. Through the first 10 points played, the score was even at five but Minnesota State would break the tie in their favor. Despite a few scoring runs, the Lakers were unable to regain the lead and trailed for the remainder of the set.
Stat Leaders: Fleming recorded her second double-digit kill total of the day with 10 kills to lead the Lakers against the Mavericks. Camdyn Odykirk, Bethany Wilson and Maggie Morris were tied for second on the team with seven kills in the match. Kalinowski added 18 assists for the Lakers.
Hagelthorn once again led the Lakers in digs and aces. The Laker libero recorded 14 digs against the Mavericks and three of the team's six aces.
Up Next:
The Lakers will begin conference play next weekend as the team travels to Detroit, Mich. to take on the Wayne State Warriors on Friday, Sept. 17 at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 18, the Lakers will match up with the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals at 2:00 p.m.
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