Home court was no advantage for the Grand Valley State University volleyball team this weekend as it lost two straight matches Sunday.

The loss to No. 17 Ferris State University took place in straight sets: 25-15, 27-25 and 25-22. It was the Lakers’ third straight, all at home, and second to the Bulldogs this season, both in straight sets. It also brings the team’s record to 7-7 overall and 4-6 in the GLIAC.

“It’s not a good feeling,” said freshman setter Clair Ruhenkamp. “We expected to do better. I think every team overcomes adversity and if we can get through this and stick together as a team it only makes us stronger.”

To begin the third set against Ferris State, the Lakers’ starting lineup, comprised of two freshmen and four sophomores, looked to stage a possible comeback. Freshmen Christina Canepa and Clair Ruhenkamp and sophomores Abby Ebels, Megan Schroeder, Sacha Gill and Lyndsey Holt did all they could to keep the Lakers within striking distance.

Recent struggles have forced GVSU head coach Deanne Scanlon to implement a simplified offense in an effort to help develop her young squad.

“It’s like raising a young child,” she said. “You don’t just tell them once and they get it. You have to simplify things. We are vanilla right now. That is what our offense needs to be like. We might add some sprinkles a little later on, but right now we need to be vanilla and do certain things well.”

GVSU fell into a quick 10-5 deficit in the final set that left it reeling, but the Lakers scrambled back and eventually took an 18-16 lead before falling 25-22.

Freshman outside hitter Abby Aiken led the Lakers with 15 kills while Schroeder and junior middle blocker Eno Umoh each had eight. Schroeder also led the team with a .375 hitting percentage.

However, a season low three blocks and Ferris State .294 hitting percentage proved to be the Lakers kryptonite.

“I didn’t feel like we had a lot of fire in us,” Scanlon said. “I thought we got down on ourselves a little bit too much and weren’t ready to make the next play. Our decision making has to be better but that comes with maturity.”

Friday, the Lakers fell to the visiting Saginaw Valley State University as SVSU won sets two, three, and five in the 20-25, 25-18, 27-25, 12-25, and 16-14 victory.

The Lakers stayed right with the Cardinals throughout the entire match. They held an edge in hit percentage, .181 to .159, and also tallied more blocks and assists. SVSU totaled more kills, 58-57, aces, 9-8, and digs, 94-91, not really outshining GVSU on paper, but found a way to get the win on the court.

“It is getting down to crunch time so we do have to start putting wins on the board,” Scanlon said. “If we are competitive enough to go five games with some of these top teams, then we should be able to win. There are no moral victories here. We are by no means writing this season off.”

While the team was resilient, strong individual performances across the board helped the determined effort.

Aiken notched a double-double, leading GVSU with 17 kills and adding 18 digs. McCotter more than doubled her previous career-high with 15 kills. Ruhenkamp dished out a career-high 51 assists and Canepa’s 26 digs were also a career best.

“We are just looking to get some wins and play hard every game, no regrets kind of thing,” Aiken said.

The Lakers now prep for Ashland University, who is tied for first in the conference, on Oct. 7. GVSU will head to Ohio hoping to rebound and looking to continue to garner experience for the young roster.

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