SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) volleyball team (4-13, 3-6 GLIAC) fell to the Davenport Panthers (8-9, 5-4 GLIAC) in four sets despite a dominant opening set by the Lakers on Saturday.

Both teams battled early in the opening set on their way to a 7-7 stalemate, but the Lakers would put their foot on the gas with a pair of 5-0 scoring runs behind multiple kills from Mariana Velasque (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). LSSU would continue to press the attack, and three kills from Emilee McDaniel (Manistique, Mich.) helped her team close out the first set by a strong score of 25-15.

The Lakers would start the second set off strong on their way to an early 4-1 advantage, but Davenport fought back to take the lead. After an LSSU timeout, the Lakers proceeded to score six of the next eight points to take a one-point lead, but after battling back and forth, the Panthers were able to go back up by three. Both teams continued to battle for the remainder of the set, but the Panthers would ultimately tie up the match at 1-1 after closing the second set by a score of 25-21.

Both teams would again battle early in the third set as a kill from true freshman Morgan Deming (Boyne City, Mich.) had the score knotted up at 6-6, but Davenport would steadily press ahead and take the third set despite kills from Velasque and Rachel Steele (Eaton Rapids, Mich.).

The fourth set proved to be a back-and-forth affair with both teams always seeming to have an answer for one another throughout. However, Davenport managed to take control late to close out the set and the match by respective scores of 25-18 and 3-1.

Velasque led all players offensively with 17 kills, and McDaniel added double-digit kills of her own with 12 on a highly efficient hitting percentage of .435. Defensively, Ally Lasley (Birch Run, Mich.) led her team with 16 digs. Meanwhile, senior setter Emily Kalinowski (South Lyon, Mich.) notched 33 assists, pushing her into fourth all-time in LSSU career assists. 

The Lakers return to action on Friday, Oct. 13 for the first day of the annual Midwest Regional Crossover.