SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State University volleyball team (1-8, 0-1 GLIAC) fell to the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals (5-4, 1-0 GLIAC) by a score of 3-0 in their home-opener on Friday.
Both teams battled early in the match as a kill from Nina White (Chelsea, Mich.) had the score tied at 8-8. The Cardinals were able to go on a 4-1 run to take a three-point lead, but the Lakers responded in force with a 7-1 run of their own that featured a pair of kills from Emilee McDaniel (Manistique, Mich.). Saginaw Valley would answer with a 4-0 run to take a one-point lead, but kills from Maggie Morris (Schoolcraft, Mich.) and Mariana Velasque (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) kept the score knotted up at 18-18. The Cardinals inched ahead and took a 24-21 lead, but the Lakers rallied, staving off three set-points with a pair of Velasque kills, to tie the set at 24-24. However, the Cardinals were able to take the next two points to claim the opening set by a score of 26-24.
The Lakers started the second set off strong, utilizing a pair of 3-0 scoring bursts to take an early three-point lead, and both teams would then trade points as a kill from Valeriya Varnakova (Ufa, Russia) had the Lakers leading 10-7. However, the Cardinals were able to respond with a 10-0 run to take the lead. The Lakers pushed back with scoring runs of 4-1 and 3-1, but Saginaw Valley held on to take the second set 25-18.
The Cardinals struck early in the third set, leading by as many as six points. But the Lakers fought back, rallying for a 9-2 run to take the lead behind four kills from McDaniel. Both teams would then trade multiple points with neither side able to take a lead greater than a single point on their way to a 22-22 stalemate. However, despite the strong effort, Saginaw Valley would earn the final three points to claim the third set 25-22 and the match 3-0.
McDaniel and Velasque were each able to tally 11 kills to lead the way offensively, and Emily Kalinowski (South Lyon, Mich.) earned 31 assists. Meanwhile, Ally Lasley (Birch Run, Mich.) led all players with 14 digs.
The Lakers return to action on Saturday, Sept. 10 when they travel to Hammond, Ind. to take on the Pride of Purdue Northwest with the first serve scheduled for 3 p.m.