SAULT STE. MARIE -  Lake Superior State rallied back from a first-set loss to win three straight and beat Ashland, 3-1, during Friday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference volleyball home opener at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

With the 18-25, 27-25, 25-22, 25-14 win, the Lakers (1-3 GLIAC, 2-6 overall) snapped a six-match losing streak.

LSSU, which played its first seven matches on the road, also plays host to first-year GLIAC opponent Tiffin at 2 p.m. Saturday.

After dropping the first set, Lake Superior State jumped to a 4-0 lead during Set 2. Ashland (2-2 GLIAC, 6-5 overall) slowly battled back, and eventually tied the second set, 24-24, after calling a timeout with a 21-18 deficit. LSSU and AU traded serves to leave the set tied, 25-25, but the Lakers secured the win with a sideout and a service point by Jessica Ewer.

Set 3 was also close from start to finish, but the Lakers stormed to a 4-0 lead during Set 4 and maintained momentum to the finish. They extended the lead to 16-8 through their first rotation, and put the set out of reach, 21-9, on five straight service points by Ashley Purvis. The Lakers' attack percentage of .273 during the fourth set was their best one-set performance since their season-opener on Sept. 5.

Ashland totaled 49 kills to LSSU's 42, but the Lakers took advantage of 30 Eagles attack errors. LSSU also had the advantage in blocking, 7-3, as Purvis and Sara Hess led with three block assists each.

Ali Jones totaled a team-high 10 kills to lead the Lakers. Hess followed with nine kills, and Abby Shereda had seven. Purvis and Ewer totaled six kills each.

Purvis totaled 29 assists, and Brittany Newberry had a season high 28 digs. Ewer followed with 15 digs.

Amanda Stefanski and Marina Santos totaled 13 kills each to lead Ashland.

Box Score