Laker Volleyball Falls in Pair of Close Battles at U.P. Open

by Sports Team

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Lake Superior State (LSSU) volleyball program (0-3) fell in both matches on the second day of the U.P. Open at Northern Michigan University against Northwood (2-0) and Minnesota-Crookston (1-1) by equal scores of 3-1 on Friday.

Northwood

The Lakers got off to a quick start against the Northwood Timberwolves, racing to an early 5-1 advantage that was capped off by a service ace from Emily Hagelthorn (South Lyon, Mich.). Northwood was able to battle back, but the Lakers would once again press the attack with a 5-0 scoring spurt to push the lead to 13-7 behind back-to-back aces from Mariana Velasque (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Both teams would battle for the remainder of the set, but LSSU would find their advantage, pushing ahead to close the set with a 6-2 run that was ended by a kill from Emilee McDaniel (Manistique, Mich.) to take the set by a score of 25-19.

The Timberwolves managed to find their footing in the second set, racing ahead for an early lead. The Lakers rallied late with a 6-1 run that featured kills from Velasque and true freshman Morgan Deming (Boyne City, Mich.), but it would not be enough as Northwood held on to tie up the match at 1-1.

Northwood would again jump out to the early advantage in the third set, but the Lakers were able to hang around thanks to a pair of kills from McDaniel. Then, LSSU would rally with multiple 5-2 scoring spurts as a McDaniel service ace brought her team within a single point at a score of 20-19. However, Northwood would earn the five points that they needed to close out the set by a score of 25-22.

The Lakers claimed the early advantage in the fourth set, racing ahead with a 6-0 run behind multiple kills from Valeriya Varnakova (Ufa, Russia) and Velasque, The Timberwolves would fight back, but the Lakers continued to nurse their lead behind more kills from Velasque and Maggie Morris (Schoolcraft, Mich.). However, a late Northwood rally would propel them ahead to secure the set and the match by respective scores of 25-22 and 3-1.

Velasque led the way offensively with double-digit kills on an efficient mark of .304 while also serving three aces. Meanwhile, Deming continued to be efficient with her own attacks, leading her team in hitting percentage at .385, and Emily Kalinowski (South Lyon, Mich.) notched 25 assists on the match.

Minnesota-Crookston

Both teams would go back-and-forth throughout the opening set. The Golden Eagles would produce a small run, but the Lakers countered with kills from McDaniel and Kalinowski, tying the score at 15-15. The Lakers would then find their footing, pushing ahead with an 8-2 run that featured four kills and an ace from Velasque. However, Crookston would rally to tie the score at 24-24, and despite a kill from McDaniel, the Golden Eagles would narrowly claim the opening set by a score of 27-25.

LSSU struck quickly in the second set, pressing ahead with an early 7-0 run that featured an ace from Morris, and they would follow that up with a run of 8-1 that was capped off by a kill from McDaniel, propelling the Lakers to a 19-7 lead. The Golden Eagles would try to rally, but a pair of kills from newcomer Hannah Callaway (Portage, Mich.) halted them in their tracks as the Lakers tied up the match at 1-1 after taking the second set by a score of 25-15.

LSSU gained an early lead in the third set, but both teams would battle throughout. Crookston would find themselves with a three-point lead, but the Lakers continued to fight, rattling off three-straight points of their own as an ace from Hagelthorn tied the set at 18-18. However, it would not be enough as the Golden Eagles claimed the set by a tight score of 25-22.

Minnesota-Crookston jumped out ahead early in the fourth set, but the Lakers battled back with a 5-1 run behind kills from Velasque and Callaway. Both teams would continue to fight with all they had with neither side giving an inch with both sides being within one or two points of one another. However, it would be Minnesota-Crookston that held on to narrowly take the set and the match by respective scores of 25-22 and 3-1.

Velasque once again led the team in kills with 15 while also recording four solo blocks on the defensive end. Kalinowski notched her first double-double of the season with 33 assists and 16 digs to lead her team in both categories, and Hagelthorn would join her in double-digit digs with 13.

The Lakers return to action on Saturday, Sept. 2 when they take on Winona State in their fourth and final match of the U.P. Open at 9 a.m.

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