GV volleyball takes home regular season GLIAC Championship

The Grand Valley State University Lakers’ volleyball team held first place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) going into their final two games of the regular season, needing to win for a guaranteed regular season conference championship.

The Lakers did just that, sweeping the University of Purdue Northwest Pride 3-0 on senior night on Friday, Nov. 10 and then winning in four sets over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Before their matchup with the Pride, the Lakers honored seniors Sara Wight, Rachel Jacquay, Maddie Gates and Isabella Kandes.

GVSU volleyball Head Coach Jason Johnson, who is in his third season at the helm, made the transition from assistant to head coach with Wight and Jacquay as the only players left on the 2023 team from that change.

“When we get to the end of the season and they’ve (Jacquay and Wight) played their final game it will definitely be an emotional day because we’ve transitioned from assistant and relationships in that regard to a head coach and the relationships we have now. So yeah, there is definitely something a little more special with the two of them,” Johnson said.

Led by a triple-double from Jordyn Gates in both games on the weekend. She had 12 points, 17 assists and 12 digs in what was a hard-fought sweep over PNW. GVSU took the sets 25-22, 25-18 and 25-20, all of which had several long rallies. 

Against the Rangers, Jordyn Gates had a stat line of 19 kills, 29 assists and 14 digs, while Jacquay led the team in assists with a combined 51.

The Lakers are looking to take the momentum from their seven-game win streak GLIAC Tournament as the number one overall seed, where they will take on Lake Superior State University at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15 in the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena.

If they continue to win, GVSU will host every game that they play in the tournament because of their first-place seeding.

Women’s basketball wins opening two games of the season

The No. 3 ranked Grand Valley State University Lakers women’s basketball team won their season opener at home against the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons on Friday, Nov. 10, for the program’s senior night.

In a game that had a final score that was much closer than the Lakers’ Head Coach Mike Williams wanted, GVSU came out on top over the Tritons 58-45 after being outscored 26-25 in the second half.

“I think we tactically aren’t hunting shots like we need to. I thought we were a little soft transition and trying to push the ball a little bit,” Williams said.

Expectations are high for the Lakers, who were led in scoring by Megan Crow (16 points) and Ellie Droste (15 points) against the Tritons.

GVSU then faced the University of Maryville Saints the ensuing day. Droste had 24 points in their 70-56 win over the Saints, 14 more points than her next closest teammate: redshirt junior forward Rylie Bisballe.

The Lakers will hit the road for the first time this season to play the University of Findlay on Friday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. and then Central State University on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m.

Men’s basketball drops two straight to begin the year

The Grand Valley State University Lakers men’s basketball team went on the road to open the season, losing both of their matchups from the past weekend.

On Friday, Nov. 10 GVSU faced the Ashland University Eagles, losing 62-61, before getting beat by Walsh University 86-75. The Lakers have had plenty of roster turnover, but return one of their top players in forward Marius Grazulis.

After having just two points and two rebounds due to foul trouble in the matchup with AU, Grazulis burst onto the scene with 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocks against WU.

The Lakers had three 20-point scorers on the weekend as Mason Docks, a transfer from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, had 21 against the Eagles and redshirt junior Trevon Gunter had 20 against WU.

The Lakers (0-2) will play their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 18 against Quincy University (1-1) at the GVSU Fieldhouse Arena in Allendale, Michigan.