ALLENDALE, Mich. – Davenport ends their regular season on a stellar note by defeating crosstown GLIAC opponent Grand Valley State University 3-2. The Panthers finished the regular season on a three game win streak, swept the Lakers during the regular season and earned a spot in the GLIAC Conference Tournament. Davenport was down 1-2 and won back-to-back sets to defeat the Lakers on the road.
THE BASICS
Final Score: Davenport 3, Grand Valley State University 2
Location: Allendale, Mich.
Records: Davenport 13-14 (9-7), Grand Valley 16-11 (11-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED
-SET SCORES: 25-22, 24-26, 17-25, 25-20, 15-9
-Following four point runs by both the teams the Lakers jumped out to an early 8-5 lead. After a couple points went by the Panthers tied the game up at 11-11. The game was close all the way up until the score hit the 20's. The Lakers took a 20-19 lead before Davenport stepped on the gas pedal. Davenport scored six of the last eight points to win the opening set of the match.
-The second set was a closet set as well throughout. Grand Valley held a couple point lead for a while down the stretch, never letting DU score too many unanswered points. Finally, Davenport fought through and tied the game at 24-24. The Lakers scored two much needed points for their team to tie the match at 1-1.
-Grand Valley carried momentum from the end of set two into the third set. The Lakers took a 14-7 lead after scoring 5 unanswered points. The lowest Davenport could cut the lead in this set was four points. The Lakers took a 2-1 set lead heading into the fourth set.
-With their backs against the wall Davenport responded very well, jumping out to a 13-6 lead following a kill by
Laura Bouwkamp. The lead was extended to 10 points for Davenport before the Lakers took a timeout. Grand Valley made a couple runs down the stretch, but the 10-point lead was too large of a deficit and the Panthers forced another fifth set. This is the third straight match that five sets were needed to determine a winner.
-The Panthers took care of business in the final set. Davenport held a 6-1 lead after a kill by
Ashley VanderHorst. Grand Valley brought the set to with two points, 11-9 in DU's favor, before the Panthers broke loose. Davenport scored four straight points to finish off the set and completed the sweep of the Lakers.
STAT LEADERS
Kills-
Krissy Dill (21)
Aces-Dill (2)
Blocks-VanderHorst (6)
Assists-
Sydney Tracer (54)
Digs-Dill (17)
UP NEXT
The Panthers secured the seventh seed for the conference tournament and will take on Northern Michigan in the Quarterfinals. The match will be played at Northern Michigan since they hold the higher seed. The match is scheduled for Wednesday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Story by:
Devin Steiner
Picture credit: Tyler Triemstra
