This past weekend, the Grand Valley State University volleyball team made a return to traditional form after several losses, pulling off wins against Ashland University and Lake Erie College 3-1 and 3-0, respectively.

“We served really well,” said GVSU head coach Deanne Scanlon. “We kept the pressure on Ashland and forced them into making a lot of errors. It’s always hard to win on the road, but it’s especially good to get a win after we’ve dropped so many five game matches.”

On Friday, the team traveled to Ashland, Ohio to face off against the Eagles (9-6, 7-4 GLIAC). Despite their inconsistencies early this season, the Lakers (9-7, 6-6 GLIAC) kept the pressure on and caused Ashland trouble early late in the match.

Despite falling 23-25 in the first set, the Lakers rallied back in a close second. Near the end of the set, the Lakers showed determination in forcing Ashland into attack errors.

At the same time, GVSU improved its defense thanks to several digs and blocks on defense.

The Lakers finished the set with a kill from Lyndsey Holt, closing out the Eagles, 25-23.

The Lakers pulled off an early lead in the third set, keeping the advantage to the end. The fourth, and final, set was close, but GVSU maintained the pressure and narrowly won, finishing the game 3-1.

“We cut down on our errors,” Scanlon said. “I think our players just got tired of losing, and they battled.”

Outside hitter Abby Aiken described the elements of their success, explaining that they primarily boiled down to determination, passing and follow-through.

“We came in with a lot of energy and we really wanted to get the job done and get the win,” said Aiken, a freshman. “We’re really focused on passing, because we realized that when we pass well, we do everything else fairly well. Our serving was great, and we got a lot of aces that allowed us to keep the advantage and win the match.”

On Oct. 9, the Lakers hit the road again, this time for Painesville, Ohio, home of the Lake Erie College Storm.

In the first set, the teams played evenly, exchanging point for point before the Lakers pulled ahead late, closing the set 25-18.

During the next two sets, the Lakers held nothing back, dominating the Storm (2-11, 1-10 GLIAC) with numerous kills, while forcing the opponents into several attack errors. The game ended with a final kill by Ally Simmons, finishing the last two sets 25-12 and 25-5.

“I think that we came out really hard against two very important teams, and it just felt really great to win,” said middle blocker Sam Phillips. “We usually work really hard, but this weekend we did especially. We came out with some positive energy; we just really wanted the win.”

The Lakers play next weekend at the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover on Oct. 14 and 15. The time, location and opponent will be released later this week.

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