Omameh named finalist for Gene Upshaw award

Sydney Omameh, a senior defensive lineman for the Grand Valley State football team, is one of eight finalists for the Gene Upshaw award. The honor is awarded to the top lineman in Division II.

Omameh is one of four defensive linemen to be named a finalist. He is a part of a GVSU defense that ranks among the nation’s leaders in scoring, quarterback sacks, red-zone defense, rushing defense and almost every other category.

Individually, Omameh has recorded 38 total tackles, 10.5 quarterback sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss. He has also recovered two fumbles and blocked two kicks.

The GVSU football team has had three linemen in the past 12 years win the award. The most recent winner of the award was defensive end Matt Judon last season. Other winners were defensive tackle Mike McFadden, the first two-time winner in the 2005-06 seasons, and offensive lineman Brandon Barnes in 2007.

Three Lakers earn All-GLIAC volleyball honors

The Grand Valley State women’s volleyball team represented three players in the All-GLIAC honors. Sophomore Staci Brower earned a spot on the All-GLIAC First Team for the second straight season. Freshman Jayci Suseland earned All-GLIAC Second Team honors and junior setter Katie Olson earned an All-GLIAC Honorable Mention.

With her second first-team award, Brower became the 16^th player in GVSU history to earn the award twice and the first since former setter Kaitlyn Wolters in the 2013-14 seasons. Brower ranked second in the GLIAC with 34 solo blocks, third with 1.10 blocks per set and fourth with 119 total blocks. She ranked eighth in the conference with a .290 hitting percentage, 11^th in points per set (3.7) and 16^th in total kills (315).

Suseland started in all 29 matches for the Lakers this season, accumulating 376 kills and 3.9 points per set, both ranking eighth in the GLIAC. Her 3.51 kills per set ranked fourth most in the conference. She recorded 10 or more kills in 21 matches this season, including a steak of 12 consecutive matches with double-digit kills.

Olson started all 29 matches as the setter for the Lakers, posting 884 assists, 8.19 per set, in her junior campaign. She ranked 13^th in the conference in both assists and assists per set. In the Lakers’ win over Tiffin Friday, Oct. 7, Olson recorded 50 assists in the 3-1 win.

GV’s Groveston awarded with the IWLCA President’s Cup

Grand Valley State women’s lacrosse head coach Alicia Groveston was awarded with the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association President’s Cup at the IWLCA honors banquet in Orlando. The honor is awarded to an individual that promotes, develops and enhances intercollegiate women’s lacrosse.

Groveston serves as the IWLCA president and was recognized for her work restoring the partnership between the IWLCA and U.S. Lacrosse. Groveston led the Lakers to a 15-4 regular season in 2016 to claim their fourth straight GLIAC Championship. The team also earned their first NCAA playoff berth in program history.