GVSU women’s volleyball loses match against UIndy

The Grand Valley State University women’s volleyball team lost its match at the University of Indianapolis invitational Saturday, Sept. 9.

The Indianapolis Greyhounds dominated GVSU three sets to nothing, leading the game in kills (40-25), assists (32-23), digs (39-21) and blocks (6-5).

Senior setter Katie Olson tried to keep her team in the match by dishing 18 assists, which happened to be the match high. Closer to the net, junior Staci Brower and sophomore Jaicy Suseland totaled six kills each to lead GVSU, while junior Shannon Winicki piled up four solo blocks.

GVSU kept up with the Greyhounds early on in each set, being tied 9-9 in the first, leading 10-9 in the second and tying it up to 4-4 in the third. However, the Greyhounds’ late runs made the difference in the match.

GVSU will play at home this weekend against Ashland Friday, Sept. 15, and Tiffin Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Fieldhouse Arena.

GVSU women’s cross country places first, men place second

The Grand Valley State University women’s cross country team placed first, while the men placed second, in the Calvin College Knight Invitational this past Saturday, Sept. 9.

The women’s team, ranked No. 1 overall in Division II, finished the competition with 63 points. GVSU had three runners in the top 10, including sophomore Theresa Mueller (third place), freshman Megan Caltagirone (fourth place) and senior Jenna Klynstra (10th place).

On the men’s team, three runners cracked the top 25. Sophomore Joe Renner finished 12th overall, the highest among GVSU men runners. Freshmen Mitchell Towne and Tim Osborne followed, ranking 14th and 18th, respectfully. The men’s team finished second with 109 points.  

GVSU will race this Friday, Sept. 15, at the Spartan Invitational in East Lansing, Michigan, something head coach Jerry Baltes is looking forward to.

“There are some things that can be build upon moving forward,” Baltes said. “We are excited to have the full team compete next week at Michigan State.”

Three GVSU students, one alum compete in national weightlifting competition

Grand Rapids hosted its first-ever national weightlifting competition this past weekend at DeVos Place. 

More than 600 weightlifters (including 100 Michiganders) competed in the USA Weightlifting Nike American Series Open 3.

Four Grand Valley State University students qualified for the event. Nursing student Matthew Kaliszak competed in the 85-kg category along with fellow laker Dom Groenveld and alumnus Thomas Sullivan. GVSU cheerleader Mackenzie Brower lifted in the 58-kg women’s category. All four are hoping to qualify for the 2017 International Weightlifting Federation World Championship that will take place in Anaheim, California, in late November.

Athletes competed in two events: the snatch and the clean and jerk.