Aug. 27, 2022, PERRYSBURG, Ohio – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team has four matches in a row, on Saturday defeating two nationally ranked opponents at the Owens Express Invitational.
GRCC, ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA Division II preseason poll, opened against the defending region champions, Terra State Community College, which is ranked No. 6 in the preseason poll. With the exception of one set, the Raiders dominated the match, taking down the Titans 25-12, 25-27, 25-12, 25-13.
Sophomore outside hitter Audrey Torres, who had a team-high 58 kills in last weekend’s tournament, led the team again with 15 kills against just three errors, hitting a solid .364. She also led the team in digs with 11. Karissa Ferry added eight kills while sophomore setter Shannon Russell totaled 31 assists, seven digs and four of the teams 15 total aces.
GRCC was tested in its final match of the day against the defending Division III champions Owens Community College. GRCC came out on top in five, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 16-25, 15-11.
Sophomore middle hitter Eliza Thelen was nearly unstoppable in the match, going for a career-high 16 kills and a career-best .538 hitting percentage. Thelen compiled 22 kills versus just three hitting errors on the day.
"We did a great job winning today's games, not only physically, but mentally," Thelen said. "Going to five sets in a game is very draining. But we were able to come together as a team and execute a victory."
Kara Hecht was the team’s leading point scorer with 15 kills, five blocks and an ace. Audrey Gower and Vienna Koenigsknecht finished with 15 and 13 digs, with Hecht and Torres each tallied 12 digs.
Alena Visnovsky, a sophomore middle, led the team with 12 blocks, making her season total 29.
GRCC is now 4-2 on the season.
GRCC will have the next 20 days off to prepare for a big northern trip where it will play five matches in five days, including matches against three new opponents: North Central Michigan College, Bay College and Delta College.