GVSU women’s tennis wins Senior Day

In pursuit of their ninth straight victory this fall, the Grand Valley State women’s tennis team had to overcome GLIAC rival Saginaw Valley State during the Lakers’ Senior Day Saturday, Oct. 21. 

The emotions of the event didn’t phase the Lakers as GVSU pulled together a 7-2 victory to improve to 9-0 overall and in the GLIAC this season. Seniors honored before the match were Aimee Moccia, Abby Perkins, Rachel Sumner and Alexa Sweeney.

In the doubles category, the No. 1 pairing of seniors Moccia and Sweeney won the first match by an 8-1 decision. GVSU continued to win the doubles as No. 2 pairing of juniors Madison Ballard and Nicole Heiniger won 8-5, while No. 3 Perkins and Livia Christman won 8-2. 

In the singles category, winners for the Lakers were No. 2-ranked Sweeney (6-1, 6-4); No. 4-ranked Perkins (6-1, 6-1); No. 5-ranked Olivia Hanover (6-4, 6-4); and No. 6-ranked Christman, who cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 victory. 

GVSU volleyball sweeps Saginaw Valley State 

Collecting their fourth win in five games, the Grand Valley State volleyball team dominated Saginaw Valley State, sweeping the Cardinals in three games (25-21, 25-18, 25-17) at the GVSU Fieldhouse Saturday, Oct. 21. 

The Cardinals led in kills (36-33), assists (35-30) and digs (39-37), but the Lakers’ blocking near the net made the difference as GVSU recorded 12.0 team blocks and forced SVSU to a staggeringly low .055 hitting percentage. 

Although the Lakers collected the sweep, all three sets went back and forth until one team found the momentum. Luckily for GVSU, the momentum on the front line pushed them through to grab their seventh conference win of the season and improve to 12-10 overall.

Leading the way for the Lakers was senior Sydney Doby and sophomore Jayci Suseland, who each posted eight kills. Suseland also contributed six blocks for the Lakers. Other contributors for the Lakers were Shannon Winicki (seven kills, three blocks), sophomore Frankie Cavallaro (11 assists, eight digs and three aces) and senior Katie Olson (14 assists).

The Lakers will hit the road once again, as they are set to travel down to Ohio to take on the Dragons of Tiffin Friday, Oct. 27 and the Eagles of Ashland Saturday, Oct. 28.

GVSU men’s club roller hockey opens 2017-18 season

After making it to the national tournament in Florida last season, the Grand Valley State men’s club roller hockey teams (Division I and Division III) opened up their season in a preseason tournament in Shelby Township, Michigan, Saturday, Oct. 14, and Sunday, Oct. 15. The tournament featured 13 teams from the Midwest Collegiate Roller Hockey League’s three divisions. 

GVSU’s Division I team finished the weekend with a record of 2-1. In the first game Saturday, the Lakers took care of the University of Akron with an easy 12-1 victory. Later that day, the Lakers faced Michigan State, but the outcome didn’t roll GVSU’s way as the Spartans grabbed a narrow 5-4 victory. However, the Lakers were able to walk away from the tournament happy, redeeming themselves with a 9-1 victory over the Spartans. 

The weekend did not go the same for the Division III team, as the Lakers’ young roster went 0-3 overall. On Saturday, the Lakers lost 4-1 to Michigan State and 4-2 to Western Michigan University, while Sunday’s contest was a 7-0 loss against Miami University (Ohio).