SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State volleyball team will return home for two matches this weekend against the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals on Friday, Oct. 29 at 4:00 p.m., and on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 2:00 p.m. against the Warriors from Wayne State. Both games will take place in the Ronald Bud Cooper Gymnasium as the Lakers play at home for the final time of the 2021-22 season. Following Saturday's match, a ceremony will be held to recognize the team's eight graduating members (Sarah Bailey, Halle Grulke, Camdyn Odykirk, Kyra Vezina, Kelly Walter, Katja Wilhelms, Kayla Wilhelms, Bethany Wilson).
The Lakers return home after two straight weekends on the road where they played six matches in the span of two weekends. However, the Lakers will match-up against some familiar faces as they face both Wayne State and Saginaw Valley State for the second time this season.
Against SVSU on Sept. 18, the Lakers would fall in three very competitive sets. The match took place in Saginaw and the Lakers had a strong effort in serving, recording seven service aces in the loss. Setter Halle Grulke would record 27 assists on that night, while Taylor Fleming and Camdyn Odykirk were tied for the team-lead with 10 kills each.
Against the Warriors on Sept. 17, the Lakers would fall in three sets in Detroit. The Lakers would struggle against the Warriors in the first two sets, but would battle to make it a very close third set where they would eventually fall by a score of 20-25.
Through 21 matches this season, the Lakers are led by Odykirk and Fleming offensively as the pair ranks first and second in kills and kills per set. Odykirk leads the team in kills with 136 and ranks second in kills per set with 1.94 while Fleming leads the Lakers in kills per set with 2.26 and ranks second behind Odykirk in kills with 131. Senior Halle Grulke's 376 assists leads the team this season.
Defensively, sophomore libero Emily Hagelthorn ranks first among her teammates in digs with 316 while Odykirk leads the Lakers with 45 total blocks this season. Hagelthorn ranks third in the GLIAC in digs per set this year with 4.45.
Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals (12-8, 4-5 GLIAC)
The Cardinals currently sit in third place in the GLIAC North division standings but have struggled in their last four matches. SVSU is led by outside hitter Maria Vukaj with 204 kills on the season and setter Peyton Gertstacker with 659 assists. The Cardinals are coached by veteran Will Stanton, who is in his twentieth season as the Cardinal head coach.
Wayne State Warriors (16-5, 8-2 GLIAC)
The Warriors are in second place in the GLIAC North Division. Winners of their last three matches, the Warriors are red hot following a sweep last weekend. The Warriors are led by Taylor Wagner who has 184 kills on the season. Lauren VanderWal was named GLIAC North player of the week last week as her impressive 15 kills would help her squad pull ahead of SVSU last weekend. Eight-year veteran Tim Koth is coaching the Warriors this season.
Up Next
Following this weekend's matches, the Lakers will be back on the road to face their Upper Peninsula Rivals, the Northern Michigan Wildcats on Friday, Nov. 5 at 4:00 p.m. and the Michigan Tech Huskies at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 6.
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