Oct. 19, 2021, BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team was down two sets to one and nearly upset by Kellogg Community College, but survived by winning the final two sets to extend its winning streak to 15 matches.
The sixth-ranked Raiders won the first set easily 25-16, but the Bruins responded in set two. The Raiders had set point and a 24-22 lead, but the Bruins ripped off four straight points to take the set.
Kellogg trailed the Raiders 6-1 early on in the third set, but the Bruins clawed back to win 25-21. GRCC dominated the fourth and final sets 25-15 and 15-9 to win the outright conference title, the 10th in the history of the program.
Libero Ola Nowak was very proud of how the team played out of its comfort zone.
"We really focused on that during practice and I believe that is what helped us win tonight," Nowak said. "Everyone did their part and what was best for the team when they were put in tough situations. I couldn't have asked for a better competitive atmosphere to play in tonight."
Kara Hecht was nearly unstoppable on the offensive side of the ball, with a career-high 15 kills and a .343 hitting percentage. Three more Raiders had double-digits in kills, with Kylie Oberlin with 13, Eliza Thelen with 10, and Karissa Ferry with 10.
Other Raiders also had career-highs. Alena Visnovsky had five blocks, Ola Nowak had 28 digs, Audrey Gower with 10 assists and Shannon Russell 14 digs.
The Raiders are now 17-5 overall and a perfect 12-0 in the MCCAA Western Conference. The Bruins fell to 3-17 and 2-8 in the conference.
Statistical Leaders:
- Kills: Hecht, 15; Oberlin, 13; Audrey Torres, 12; Thelen and Ferry, 10
- Assists: Shannon Russell, 50; Gower, 10.
- Digs: Nowak, 28; Gower, 21; Torres, 16.
- Blocks: Visnovsky and Ferry, 5; Oberlin, 3.
- Aces: Torres, 3; Russell and Charlie Baker, 2.
There are just two more matches left in the regular season. On Oct. 26 the team travels to Kalamazoo Valley Community College before coming home for Sophomore Day on Oct. 28 for a match against Lansing Community College.