Oct. 26, 2021, TEXAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. – For the second straight match, the Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team extended its winning streak by surviving a five-set victory on the road after being down two sets to one.
Tuesday’s win over Kalamazoo Valley Community College extended the Raiders win streak to 16 matches, with just one more remaining before postseason.
GRCC, ranked No. 6 in the nation in the latest NJCAA poll, struggled in the first set, losing 25-19. The team rebounded with their best hitting efficiency of the night, .274 to take set two 25-19. The Cougars led wire-to-wire in the third, downing the Raiders 25-22.
The Western Conference champions trailed 20-19 in the fourth, but ended the set on a 6-1 run, winning 25-21. GRCC proved too tough for Kalamazoo Valley in the fifth, jumping out to 10-1 lead and prevailing 15-11.
Head Coach Chip Will praised his team for grinding out the win, despite hitting just .098 for the match.
"I was proud of the fact that we were able to use every player tonight and they all contributed in one way or another," Will said. "We had some players off the bench step up in huge moments and filled the roles they were asked to play. KVCC played amazing and is going to be a dangerous team come regionals next week."
Sophomore Annie Holesinger led the Raiders with 13 kills while hitting .375. Freshman Karissa Ferry led the team with a .471 hitting percentage with 11 kills and adding a team high four blocks.
The Raiders are now 18-5 overall and a perfect 13-0 in the conference. The Bruins fell to 7-13 and 7-5 in the conference.
Statistical Leaders:
- Kills: Holesinger, 13; Ferry, 11; Audrey Torres, 9.
- Assists: Ola Nowak, 38.
- Digs: Audrey Gower, 23; Nowak, 16, Torres, 5.
- Blocks: Ferry, 4; Eliza Thelen, 2.
- Aces: Torres, 4; Nowak, 3; Gower and Charlie Baker, 2.
GRCC student-athletes will be wearing special pink jerseys when they take the court at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse against Lansing Community College, in their final match of the regular season. Proceeds and donations will go to Gilda's Club Grand Rapids. The organization supports people battling cancer and those grieving the loss of friends and loved ones.
Admission is $3, with GRCC students and employees admitted free with their RaiderCard.