ALLENDALE, Mich. – Davenport started a three-game road stretch to end their 2018 regular season schedule and it opened against local opponent Grand Valley State University. The Panthers cruised past the Lakers in just three sets, completing the regular season sweep for the second straight year. Davenport has a 4-0 record against the Lakers in the last two seasons and spoiled Grand Valley's senior day today. The win helped clinch a spot in the GLIAC Tournament for the Panthers, who are now 7-7 in conference play.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Final Score: Davenport 3, Grand Valley State 0
Location: Allendale, Mich.
Records: Davenport 13-13 (7-7), Grand Valley State 12-13 (5-9)


 
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET SCORES: 25-13, 25-18, 25-17
 
The Panthers started off hot and never cooled off during the match. Davenport won the opening six points, which included a kill by Ashley VanderHorst and Hayley Kreiger. Finally, the Lakers scored a point, then Davenport followed up with five unanswered points to take a commanding 11-1 lead in the first set. VanderHorst recorded a service ace and Kreiger added two kills during the stretch. The set evened out for a bit and the teams swapped points. Davenport ended the set winning six of the final eight points, winning 25-13.
 
Davenport didn't let up in the second set. An early 6-2 lead eventually become a 12-6 lead, and then later in the set become a 16-7 lead for DU after a kill by Kreiger. The Lakers answered with three consecutive points, then Davenport followed with three points of their own to take a 19-10 lead. Davenport got back to back kills to end the set, one from Jenn Kay Vander Meer and the set-winner belonging to Kreiger.
 
The Lakers started the third set by scoring the first point and taking a 3-1 lead. However, the Panthers squashed the possibility of a comeback quickly by scoring four consecutive points to build a 5-3 lead. Davenport continued to build their lead by scoring three straight shortly after to take a 10-6 lead, with back to back block assists coming from Vander Meer and VanderHorst. The Panthers rattled off four straight points, with a Grand Valley timeout right in the middle of the streak, to take a commanding 17-9 advantage. The Panthers finished strong, scoring four of the final five points and Vander Meer earned the match-winning point with a kill, assisted by Kasey Stehouwer.
 
The win gives Davenport a guarantee that they finish in the top three in the GLIAC South Division, which earns them an automatic bid to the GLIAC Tournament. The seeding is yet to be determined for the tournament, so Davenport does not know who they play. The last two regular-season matches for the Panthers will help determine their postseason opponent.

STAT LEADERS
Kills-Kreiger (13)
Aces-VanderHorst (2)
Blocks-VanderHorst (4)
Assists-Sydney Tracer (27)
Digs-Nina Rudnitsky/Stehouwer (18)
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Vander Meer: 11 kills and 10 digs
 
COACHES CORNER
"The team really played steadily today, which is always the goal in such a momentum driven sport. They are playing with great cohesiveness and energy and I'm excited to see them carry that into our final weekend." – Head Coach Megan Lenhart

UP NEXT
Davenport remains on the road for their final two matches of the 2018 regular-season. The Panthers play at Purdue Northwest on Friday and then Parkside next Saturday. Both locations for the games will be in the central time zone.

Story by: Devin Steiner
 
Picture credit: Emily Baustert