HAMMOND, Ind. - The Lake Superior State University volleyball team (1-9, 0-2 GLIAC) fell to the Pride of Purdue Northwest (6-4, 1-1 GLIAC) by a final score of 3-1 on Saturday.
The Pride opened up the scoring with an early 4-1 run, but the Lakers answered with a 5-0 run of their own to take the lead behind kills from Emilee McDaniel (Manistique, Mich.) and Mariana Velasque (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Purdue Northwest was able to push ahead, but the Lakers kept fighting with multiple 3-0 scoring bursts to retake the lead with a score of 23-22. However, after a timeout, the Pride earned the next three points to claim the opening set by a score of 25-23.
The Pride would once again open the scoring in the second set, but the Lakers responded with a kill from Nina White (Chelsea, Mich.) and a Sydney Briney (St. Joseph, Mich.) service ace. Both teams would trade points, but a kill from Emily Kalinowski (South Lyon, Mich.) propelled the Lakers to a 4-1 run. The Pride were able to go on a 9-1 run, but the Laker responded in force with an 11-1 run of their own behind an outstanding five-consecutive service aces from Briney. Both teams would go back and forth for the remainder of the set, but the Pride were able to take two-straight points late to take the set by a score of 28-26.
It would be the Lakers that opened up the scoring in the third set as McDaniel quickly picked up a pair of kills. The Pride were able to push back, but the Lakers answered with a 5-1 run that featured a pair of service aces from Velasque, and Valeriya Varnakova (Ufa, Russia) would get involved soon afterwards with a pair of kills of her own. The Pride attempted to rally with a 4-1 run, but it would not be enough as the Lakers held them off to claim the set by a score of 25-22.
The Pride were able to strike early in the fourth set, but kills from Velasque and Kalinowski kept the Lakers within striking distance. White and Ally Lasley (Birch Run, Mich.) would then help the Lakers to a 4-1 run to help trim the lead. The Lakers rallied with multiple scoring bursts of 3-0 and 3-1 that featured multiple kills from McDaniel, but the Pride would ultimately hold on to take the set by a score of 25-15 and the match 3-1.
McDaniel led the way offensively, leading all players with 16 kills, and Velasque was not far behind with 12 kills, nine digs, and three service aces. Briney earned six service aces, and Kalinowski would have another impressive outing with a 38-assist, 18-dig double-double while leading all players in both categories.
The Lakers return to action on Friday, Sept. 16 when they travel to Marquette, Mich. to take on the Northern Michigan Wildcats with the first serve scheduled for 7 p.m.