GVSU Quick Hits

By Lanthorn Sports ([email protected])

GVSU men’s and women’s swimming and diving finish strong at 2018 Calvin Invite

The 11th-ranked Grand Valley State women’s swimming and diving team finished first at the 2018 Calvin Invite with 1,662 points, while the seventh ranked men’s team finished second behind Northern Michigan with 1,910 points.

For the women’s team, Melina Goebel earned a first place finish in the 500 free (5:00.31), while Mercedes Martinez hit the wall first in the 100 Fly (56.02). Samantha Laurich also finished first in the 200 Breast (2:17.97).

The men’s team had four first place finishes, as Harry Shalamon finished first in both the 200 back (1:43.86) and the 200 IM (1:48.34). Gabriel Souza touched the wall first in the 100 fly (47.38), while a team of Souza, Ben Walling, Oscar Armengol Saura and JD Ham placed first in the 400 free relay (3:00.38).

The GVSU men and women won’t be in action again until Saturday, Jan. 5, as they have a home duel with GLIAC rival Wayne State.

Staci Brower earns AVCA honorable mention All-American honors

Grand Valley State senior middle blocker Staci Brower was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II honorable mention All-American team for her performance in the 2018 season.

Brower, who was also named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region team, became the first Laker in program history to be a four-time All-GLIAC First Team honoree following the 2018 season.

This is the Byron Center native’s first All-American honor.

Brower was the main cog in the Lakers plans, tallying a team-best 330 kills and 3.30 kills per set. 18 times in GVSU’s 28 matches this season, Brower was the leading attacker and 22 times she tallied at least 10 kills.

She was not only the Lakers’ most consistent source of offense this season, but Brower also led the team in all blocking categories for the third season in a row.

Former GVSU football star Matthew Judon records impressive stat vs Raiders

Former Grand Valley State football player and current Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Matthew Judon had sacks on three consecutive plays against the Oakland Raiders last week, becoming the first player to pull off the feat since Brad Scioli of Indianapolis against Houston in 2002.

The sequence occurred after Baltimore went up by 17 points in the fourth quarter. They went on to beat the Raiders

“You knew they were throwing, so Matt could cut it loose just a little bit more,”said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “Of course, you’re not planning for three sacks in a row.”

Judon has 4.5 sacks in his last three games after getting only 1.5 in his first eight. Now in his third season out of GVSU, as of Dec. 1, he’s two sacks short of matching his career high.

VARSITY SCHEDULE
Men’s Basketball:

Thursday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m., Home vs Ashland

Saturday, Dec. 8, 8 p.m., Home vs Wayne State

Women’s Basketball:

Thursday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m., Home vs Ashland

Thursday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m., Home vs Wayne State