The No. 19 Grand Valley State University women’s volleyball team spent a couple of days in Ohio by
going streaking and doing some sweeping.

GVSU (10-2, 4-0 GLIAC) pushed its winning streak to eight games over the weekend by cruising past
both Malone University and Walsh University in straight sets.

“The tough competition in the first couple of weekends has really paid off,” said GVSU head coach
Deanne Scanlon.

The team coasted in each of the three-set victories, winning four of six sets by double digits. GVSU
currently holds the top spot in the GLIAC North Division along with No. 24 Ferris State University,
which also boasts a 4-0 conference record.

GVSU has been steadily making its way up the AVCA Top 25 after upsetting a trio of ranked teams
early on.

“We know we’re not under the radar anymore,” Scanlon said.

The Lakers stepped out of the bus ready to play on Friday night against Malone University, and
handed the Pioneers their first conference loss of the season (25-14, 25-13, 25-21).

Senior right side hitter Megan Schroeder and junior outside hitter Abby Aiken each contributed with
10 kills, while junior setter Kaitlyn Wolters chipped in with three to go with a game-high 28 assists.

“We’ve shown that we’re a good team, but we have to keep on proving it,” Schroeder said.

The team was even better on Saturday after making the 10 minute trip from Canton to North Canton.

GVSU kept the momentum going on Saturday afternoon by using an incredibly efficient attack to wear
down Walsh in straight sets (25-19, 25-11, 25-7). The team was able to consistently make the right
play throughout, racking up 40 kills while posting a season-best .337 attack percentage. Schroeder
tallied a game-high eight kills while Wolters led both teams with 24 assists.

Junior libero Christina Canepa was defensively sound all weekend for the Lakers, racking up 29 digs in
the pair of sweeps. Canepa said the team will have to get used to playing with a target on its back.

“It’s going to get more difficult as the season goes on,” she said. “It’s a good thing.”

The team managed to get it done while resting All-GLIAC sophomore outside hitter Betsy Ronda, who
has been in-and-out of the lineup with an abdominal injury. Ronda is expected to play on Tuesday
night against Ferris State.

Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Majerle made the most of her opportunity in Ronda’s absence.
Majerle put together a couple of solid offensive performances in the pair of victories, tallying 16 total
kills on the weekend to go with six digs. She and freshman outside hitter Rachel Dickerson caught the
attention of their head coach.

“It was great,” Scanlon said. “They’ve worked hard in practice and it’s such an important – and hard –
thing to do…to stay engaged when they’re not playing regularly. These kids have bought into that.”

GVSU will battle for the top spot in the GLIAC North Division against No. 24 Ferris State University on
Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Big Rapids, Mich. with an opportunity to stretch its winning streak to nine games.

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