Grand Valley State University’s volleyball team (19-9) opened the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) quarterfinals with a clean, 3-0 sweep over Davenport University (13-15), commanding all sets 26–24, 25–13 and 25–16. The Wednesday game was followed by a Saturday semifinals matchup against rival Ferris State University (24-6), taking the match to a full, competitive five sets, but resulting in an unfortunate loss for the Lakers. 

The Davenport game showed the Lakers can dig themselves out of a slow start, and that the group refuses to fold when things go south early. In the first set against the Panthers, the Lakers were the ones chasing. Davenport jumped out to an early, commanding lead and forced GVSU onto its heels. 

“I did not think we started off with the right mindset and right intensity,” said head coach Jason Johnson. “We do not normally play on Wednesday, there was not a ton of energy in the gym and we had three seniors starting their last home match. There were a lot of things going into that first set.”

Out of an early timeout, the Lakers finally settled in. The serves were clean and net defense was even better. Eventually and slowly, GVSU chipped away until they briefly took a 13–12 lead. Davenport answered with back-to-back aces to move in front again, but the Lakers kept persisting, clawing back 24–24. From that point, there was no doubt in the gym the Lakers were in control. 

A clutch kill from senior outside hitter Kendall Stover brought the crowd back to full energy, and a combined net block by junior middle hitter Kennedy Arp and freshman setter Gabby Orlet on the right side was the statement to close out a 26–24 set win. 

From that point on, the Lakers looked like the better team. The offense led by Arp, Stover and senior setter Megan O’Sullivan was firing, while junior middle back Brianna Stawski and outside hitter Kate Goudreau turned away repeated Panther attacks at the net.

“After that, I thought we settled in,” said Johnson. “Offensively, things started getting better. Our serving, blocking and defense was really good.”

The Lakers controlled the next two sets with long service runs, finishing off a three-set sweep that pushed them into the semi-final. 

“It is really about building now,” said Johnson. “Everything is a one-and-done scenario for us, and it is about building on top of what we did to get better. I hope the intensity is maintained, but the lesson is we have to come at it from the first step.” 

The second game was the one that tested that “one-and-done mentality.” Against Ferris, the Lakers quickly fell behind 6–1 and had to burn an early timeout. Out of the break, GVSU slowly climbed back behind quality serving and tough kills. The Lakers tied the set at 10–10, then pulled ahead on a Stover ace and another kill in the middle from Stawski. 

O’Sullivan closed the door with a string of kills on the left to finish a 25–20 win and 2–0 lead in the match. However, Ferris responded, tightening its own play, taking the third and fourth sets and forcing a fifth. For GVSU, this was familiar territory. 

“It is a gritty group,” said Johnson. “We have played eight five-set matches this year, so they know how to battle. They know how to grind through matches. It is about being clean in the tough moments and not making a lot of mistakes. That is how we are going to be able to win.” 

Both teams traded points to 8–8. Down 10–13, the Lakers saved a point on another kill before the Bulldogs finally managed to close the game out 15–11. 

The quarterfinal sweep and the five-set battle in the semi-final fit the one-and-done mentality. GVSU may not have reached its end goal in the GLIAC tournament, but the team showed it can be effective both on offense and defense. However, the Lakers did not walk away from the week without receiving any accolades. 

O’Sullivan earned All-GLIAC honors for the second year in a row after leading the Lakers in kills and aces. In the middle, Stawski was voted to the first team after finishing as one of the GLIAC’s top blockers. Stover picked up her fourth All-GLIAC nod. Arp turned her first year as a full-time starter into a second team ALL-GLIAC spot and Goudreau grabbed her first career All-GLIAC honor.