The Ashland Univesrsity volleyball team opened with a 25-23 Set 1 win over host Grand Valley State, but the Lakers won the last three to take a 23-25, 25-8, 25-12, 25-17 decision on Friday (Sept. 15) night in Allendale, Mich.
The match was the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
The Eagles (6-3, 0-1 GLIAC) got off to a solid start, hitting .237 in the opening frame and holding the Lakers (4-5, 1-0 GLIAC) to a .209 mark. Ashland held a narrow lead throughout most of the set.
Tied at 22, the Eagles got a kill from freshman Zoie Franklin before an attack error by the Lakers gave Ashland set point at 24-22. After an AU error, the Eagles won the set when the Lakers mishandled a pass.
After that, the Lakers took command of the match, holding Ashland to negative hitting percentages in Sets 2 and 3 and putting down 15 kills in the fourth to secure the win.
Sophomore Shelby Woycik led the Eagles with nine kills with redshirt-sophomore Michaela Ping adding seven kills. The Eagles hit .014 overall.
Senior Melanie Aguayo finished with 24 digs and junior Kayla Pfeiffer led the squad with 17 assists.
The Lakers, who hit .246 overall, were led by Staci Brower's 17 kills (.517). Sydney Benchley had a team-high 16 digs.
The Eagles will look to split their weekend road trip on Saturday (Sept. 16) when they play Wayne State in Detroit at 2 p.m.
AU
VB/BB