HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Lake Superior State women's volleyball team opened the 2021 fall season with a pair of matches against No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul and No. 7 Minnesota-Duluth on Friday, Sept. 3 at the Keweenaw Volleyball Classic, hosted by Michigan Tech in Houghton, Mich. The Lakers fell in both matches 3-0 against two of the best teams in the nation. 

In the first match of the day, the Lakers fell to the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears by scores of 25-16, 25-13, and 25-14. Later, LSSU would lose to a talented Minnesota-Duluth team by scores of 25-17, 25-7, 25-23. 

Lakers vs. No. 2 Concordia-St. Paul

Set One: The Lakers and Golden Bears played even through the first 10 points, sitting at a 5-5 tie. Concordia St. Paul would take a 10-6 lead over the Lakers, and would follow with 11 of the set's next 14 points. The Lakers tried to rally in the late stages of the set but fell to the No. 2 team, 25-16.

Set Two: For the second consecutive set, the two teams matched up evenly to start. The Lakers trailed by one point (7-6) but the Golden Bears began to extend the lead. Concordia-St. Paul's skill took over in the second half of the set as the Laker opponent took a 2-0 lead in the match. 

Set Three: The Lakers once again came out strong against the Golden Bears, with the set even at seven points apiece. A few points later, Lake Superior State would take the lead (9-8) over Concordia-St. Paul. The team's traded points as the score remained tied at 12. However, the Golden Bears would clinch the set, and the match, with a strong run to end the Lakers first match of the season. 

Stat Leaders: Lake State was led by senior Camdyn Odykirk who recorded seven kills for the Lakers. Odykirk's kill percentage in the match of .357 also led the Lakers. Sophomore Emilee McDaniel ranked second on the team with five kills while seniors Sarah Bailey and Bethany Wilson each posted four kills. Junior Emily Kalinowski recorded all 22 assists in the match for LSSU.

Defensively, the Lakers recorded 24 digs with sophomore libero Emily Hagelthorn leading the team with seven. 

Lakers vs. No. 7 Minnesota-Duluth

Set One: The Lakers played solid through the opening stretch of the first set, leading 6-4 over the Bulldogs. UMD scored 10 of the set's next 13 points to take a 14-9 lead over the Lakers. But, the Lakers would respond to bring the score back within two points (15-13). Minnesota-Duluth answered the rally by the Lakers and would take the opening set by a score of 25-17.

Set Two: LSSU started off strong, taking an early 4-2 lead over the Bulldogs. However, UMD's skill proved too much for the Lakers as the Bulldogs took the set, 25-7.

Set Three: The Lakers closed out the first day of the Keweenaw Volleyball Classic with their closest set of the day, falling 25-23 to the No. 7 ranked Bulldogs. LSSU and UMD were tied at 6 through the first 12 points before the Bulldogs compiled a 16-9 lead. The Lakers showed their resilience as the team scored 10 of the set's next 15 points, to close the gap to three points (22-19). With the Bulldogs holding a 24-19, the Lakers scored four consecutive points to keep the set, and match, alive but UMD secured the win by a score of 25-23. 

Stat Leaders: Odykirk led the Lakers in kills for the second straight match as she registered six kills against UMD. The senior middle hitter also added two block solos and a block assist in the match. Junior transfer Ally Gruber, who served two aces in the match, followed Odykirk with five kills as she wrapped up her first day of collegiate competition as a Laker. Halle Grulke played as the Lakers setter against the Bulldogs, and notched 19 assists in the match.

Defensively, the Lakers recorded 24 digs with sophomore libero Emily Hagelthorn leading the team with six. 

Up Next:

The Lakers will return to action tomorrow for the team's second day of competition at the Keweenaw Volleyball Classic. Lake Superior State will take on the Huskies of No. 16 St. Cloud State at 9:30 a.m. and at 2:30 p.m., they will face the Minnesota State Mavericks. 

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