Gia Waters tallied 12 digs and Valeriya Varnakova registered 11 as Lake Superior State hosted the Davenport Panthers in GLIAC volleyball action Friday night.

The Lakers (0-11, 0-7 GLIAC) got an excellent defensive performance from Waters, the senior from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She set a new season-high with her 12 digs, though the Lakers dropped the match in straight sets, 25-14, 25-14, 25-12.

Elisa Rizzoli scored a team-high six kills. The right-side hitter continues to impress in her first campaign at the collegiate level. Caitlyn Matelski scored five kills with just one attacking error. Another rookie, the Petoskey, Michigan native has put together a nice string of performances, after setting a career-high with eight kills against Purdue Northwest on September 27^th.

The Lakers took an early lead in the first set against the Panthers (8-7, 5-3 GLIAC), going up 3-1 on a kill by Matelski and a service ace from Waters. But DU took a large lead, rallying from the early deficit. Madisyn Dykema led a rally from the service line as the Lakers scored four straight points late in the set, with a kill by Rizzoli and a service ace headlining. But the Panthers scored four straight to close out the set.

The second and third sets saw Davenport take early, secure leads. Down 9-4 in the second set, the Lakers scored four of the next six points to cut the gap to 11-8. Jenna DeRosia's kill, with an assist from Avery Headworth, started the Lakers surge forward. But DU took nine of the next ten points to take set two.

In the third, an early burst saw the Panthers grab a 10-4 lead. Though Varnakova and Shea Berisoff scored kills, the Lakers couldn't find their footing.

The Lakers host Ferris State Saturday at 2:00 PM at the Bud Cooper Gymnasium. Get your tickets online or at the Norris Center Box Office.