Nov. 4, 2021, PORT HURON, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team will have to fight its way through the consolation bracket if it wants to return to NJCAA DII National Tournament after losing 3-1 to Muskegon Community College in the opening round at the NJCAA Region XII Great Lakes B Tournament.
Muskegon, which lost to GRCC in both regular season matchups, defeated the MCCAA conference champions 25-16, 19-25, 25-22, 25-13 to advance to the winner's bracket final against Terra State Community College on Friday at 8 p.m.
Head coach Chip Will said he was disappointed with the outcome, but believes the team has plenty of fight left in it.
"We've been in this position before," Will reminded his players. "We've come out of the consolation bracket before, and I believe this team has what it takes to do it again."
GRCC is set to take on Glen Oaks Community College Friday at 2 p.m. If the team wins, it will face either Kalamazoo Valley or Lansing Community College in a 6 p.m. match-up.
To get back to the national tournament, GRCC – ranked sixth in the nation -- will have to win two matches on Friday and then three matches on Saturday.
Statistical Leaders:
- Kills: Audrey Torres, 10; Kara Hecht, 9; Annie Holesinger, 8.
- Assists: Shannon Russell, 29; Ola Nowak, 16.
- Digs: Torres, 15; Audrey Gower, 12.
- Blocks: Eliza Thelen and Kylie Oberlin, 3.
- Aces: Torre and Russell, 2; Nowak, 1.