SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — An eight-point rally in the second set helped Davenport overcome an opening-set loss and defeat Lake Superior State 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-17) on Saturday. The Panthers finished the regular season 17-9 overall and 9-7 in GLIAC play, totaling 58 kills on .242 hitting while limiting the Lakers (6-22, 2-14 GLIAC) to 39 kills and a .107 hitting percentage.
Karley Pretzer powered the offense with a career-high 19 kills, surpassing her previous best of 17, a mark she reached in each of the past two seasons. Madison Berry recorded a double-double with 44 assists and 10 digs, while Hayley Carr anchored the defense with 24 digs and added five assists. Mariya Montgomery contributed four kills on nine attacks and four total blocks.
Davenport opened the first set with a 9-4 lead before a six-point run put the Lakers in front. The Panthers responded to regain a 15-11 advantage, but LSSU worked its way back as the teams traded points down the stretch. A service ace from Julia Frederick tied the score at 22-22 before the Lakers claimed the final three points to take the opener.
The Panthers faced a 20-15 deficit in the second set before putting together the match's turning point. Livi Overbeek sparked an eight-point run with a kill, and Amelia Werner served the next seven points as Davenport surged ahead 23-20. The rally included a Werner ace, a combined block from Berry and Montgomery and two Pretzer kills. Pretzer also delivered Davenport's final two points to secure the 25-23 comeback win and even the match.
Davenport carried that momentum into the third set, building an 11-6 lead behind kills from Werner and Pretzer and an Overbeek ace. Montgomery added two blocks and a kill as the Panthers extended the margin to 16-7. After LSSU scored three straight points, Davenport answered with kills from Jaide Wirth and Maddie Albright before Overbeek's second ace of the set pushed the lead to 20-11. Pretzer finished with six kills in the frame, including the final point of the 25-15 win.
The fourth set remained close through the middle stages, with Albright contributing four kills and an ace to help the Panthers maintain their edge. After the Lakers pulled within 15-14, Davenport answered with four straight points behind a Werner kill, two Pretzer kills and an LSSU attack error. The Panthers continued to pull away, with Werner bringing them to match point before a Lakers error sealed the 25-17 victory.
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Davenport has clinched a berth in the GLIAC Tournament and currently sits in a three-way tie for fourth with Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan at 9-7 in conference play. Ferris State and Grand Valley State hold the top two spots, followed by Saginaw Valley State at 9-6 with one match remaining. The tournament begins Wednesday, Nov. 11, with the Panthers' seed and quarterfinal matchup to be determined following the completion of conference play.
