Grand Rapids, MI – GRCC's NJCAA second ranked and returning National Champion Raider volleyball teams opens their season this weekend at Oakland Community College's Block City Invitational against the MCCAA East's top three teams from 2012.

GRCC will commence play on Friday with a first round matchup against the returning MCCAA East Champion and NJCAA preseason #15 ranked, Mott Community College.  Mott's bears recorded an impressive 21-5 record in 2012 and return four sophomores from last season. 

In addition to their freshman talent, Mott added former Raider and NJCAA First Team All-American Kelsey Darling (2011) to their roster for 2013.  As a freshman at GRCC, Darling recorded 292 kills and 73 blocks while earning effectively every award possible from the conference and the region as the Raiders made a run at the NJCAA DII National Tournament.

At 2:30 Friday GRCC faces the Ocelots of Schoolcraft Community College.  Schoolcraft finished the 2012 season third in the MCCAA West with a 20-15 overall record while returning only three of eight freshman from last year's squad. 

Saturday the Raiders head to the court first facing Oakland Community College's Raiders at 10AM.  Oakland will begin their season with first year head coach Jeffery Stark.  Stark replaces Brian Lindstrom who coached OCC for the past six seasons.   Oakland returns just four of their 8 freshman from 2012 and graduated four sophomores from their 2012 roster.

GRCC's last match of the Block City Invitational pairs them up with Alpena Community College's Lumberjacks at 1:30PM.  Alpena finished the 2012 season second from the bottom in the MCCAA East with a 3-15 record, but return every freshman from their 2012 roster. 

Scores will be updated throughout the weekend at www.grccraiders.com  or follow GRCC Athletics onTwitter @GRCCAthletics.