Lake Superior State's volleyball team continues to battle high-level competition as the season gets underway. A week after competing in Minnesota at the Mankato Tournament, the Lakers opened GLIAC play with a match on the road at #18 Grand Valley State.

While the Lakers (0-5, 0-1 GLIAC) saw good performances from Gia Waters, Morgan Deming and Vanessa Swerdon, GVSU (6-2, 1-0 GLIAC) won in straight sets, 25-13, 25-13, 25-13.

Waters scored four kills on ten hits for LSSU, while matching her season high with seven digs.

Swerdon passed very well for Lake Superior State, with 17 assists. She also excelled defensively with seven digs. The senior played very efficiently, with no errors in any statistical category.

Deming scored a team-high eight kills on 18 swings, adding a solo block in the opening set. She doubled her previous season-high in kills, while setting a new season-high in total attacks.

The first two sets followed a similar pattern, with GVSU taking early leads and gradually expanding the gap. Grand Valley State's longest run in either set was four points, which it did once in the middle of the first set. Lake Superior State did well to limit the damage and prevent long runs. But in the third set, GVSU went on an eight-point run early, putting significant space between the two sides.

Lake Superior State has opened the year with one of the toughest schedules in Division II Volleyball. GVSU is LSSU's third opponent in six games that currently sits inside the Top 25 of this week's AVCA poll. One more of the Lakers first six opponents is currently receiving votes. Saturday's opponent - Wayne State - has also received votes in this week's poll.

The Lakers head to Detroit to face Wayne State, then take on Saginaw Valley State and Purdue Northwest next weekend. LSSU hosts Michigan Tech in its home opener at the Bud Cooper Gymnasium on October 3^rd.