GVSU men’s basketball wins second exhibition game

Selected to finish fourth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason poll, the Grand Valley State University men’s basketball team put on a strong performance, defeating Wilberforce University 88-59 in their second exhibition game of the season last Thursday.

Defense was a strong point for GVSU in this matchup. They forced 31 turnovers, which allowed the Lakers’ offense to outshoot Wilberforce, hitting 46% of 3-pointers and 50% from the field.

Senior guard Mason Docks controlled the game defensively with nine assists, while redshirt sophomore guard Javion Otten led the offense with a 17-point outing. Additionally, Preseason First-Team All-GLIAC graduate forward Ethan Alderink scored 12 points, shooting 5-6.

The Lakers will begin the 2025-26 regular season Friday, Nov. 14 against Ashland University, playing on a neutral court in Toledo, Ohio.

Volleyball wins back-to-back home games

The GVSU volleyball team (15-7) swept Davenport University (11-12) 3-0 in a Halloween matchup, followed by a 3-2 win against rival No. 15 Ferris State University (19-5).

Against the Panthers, GVSU opened set one with a seven-point run, and held the lead on their way to a 25-14 set-one victory. In a contested set two, both teams fought for control of the scoreboard. However, it was the Lakers who got ahead late, taking set two 25-20. With hope for a sweep in mind, GVSU went all in, demonstrated by a 10-point run midway through the third set, eventually winning 25-12.

Defending their home court the following day in front of the ninth-largest crowd in program history, the Lakers knew the matchup against the Bulldogs was important to stay in contention for a conference title. 

Despite the support, it was Ferris who took set one, 25-17. With resilience in mind, the Lakers responded with a pair of wins, taking set two, 25-13 and set three, 25-21. In set four, Ferris remained strong, taking the set, 25-16.

Forcing set five, the Lakers began with a small 8-4 lead. A late 4-2 run by GVSU secured the upset, 15-11.

GVSU will return to the road soon, traveling across the state Friday to Saginaw Valley State University (8-16).

Women’s wrestling dominates in second season opener

In their second season as a program, the No. 4-ranked GVSU women’s wrestling team put on a show at the Pointer Open, hosted at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Among the 18 Lakers that competed, six placed in the top three for their weight classes. 

Opening in the 103-pound class for the Lakers was fifth-ranked senior Rayana Sahagun, who went 3-0 in her matches and finished in first place.

Freshman Libby Roberts, in the 117-pound class, followed with a similar narrative, going 4-0 and taking first place.

In the 124-pound class, third-ranked sophomore Aspen Blasko finished 2-1 in matches, placing second.

Senior Hannah Palise competed in the 131-pound class, where she went 3-0 and finished in first place.

Competing in the 160-pound class for the Lakers, third-ranked sophomore Elleni Johnson continued GVSU’s dominant run, also going 3-0 in matches and placing first.

Freshman Rihanna Venegas in the 180-pound class went 3-1 in matches, placing second and closing out an awe-inspiring run for the women’s team.

Next up for the Lakers is the Bill Farrell Memorial International in New York City on Saturday.

Wrestling Club competes aboard historic ship

The GVSU Wrestling Club (GVSUWC) hosted the annual Shipyard Slam Oct. 26, where multiple teams competed on the deck of the USS LST 393 in Muskegon. Combining competition with a view, the event transformed the World War II landing ship into a wrestling tournament, and the Lakers did not disappoint.

In a press release, GVSUWC head coach Ryan Lancaster emphasized the importance of the location in inspiring the wrestlers.

“Wrestling on the deck of a warship is something special,” said Lancaster. “You can feel the history under your feet.”

While the tournament hosted a few matchups against wrestlers from Muskegon Community College, a majority of the action was between members of GVSUWC.

Ready to hit the mats, it was freshman Sophia Figueroa who made a statement in the 138-pound class, defeating fellow freshman teammate Hailey Johnson by fall in 4:25. Figueroa then went on to defeat MCC’s Korin Mitchell in 2:34.