Grand Rapids, Mich. --
Tuesday's match at the Ford Fieldhouse will feature the 3rd ranked Raiders and the Jayhawks of Muskegon. Even though the Raiders have a 26-6 record against MCC during Coach Will's tenure, the Jayhawks have been one of the Raiders toughest opponents year after year. Twelve of those victories against MCC came when the Jayhawks were nationally ranked. Muskegon eliminated the Raiders from Regionals in 2015 with a 3-2 win; ending a five year stretch of National Tournament appearances for GR. Last year however, the Raiders got the best of the Jayhawks in the regional final winning a crazy fifth set, 22-20, to get back to nationals. Earlier this season, the Raiders swept the Jayhawks in Muskegon (their lone home loss) 25-15, 25-19, 25-19. With a lot on the line tomorrow, let's take a look at both teams.
Muskegon CC – The visitors come into tomorrow's match the second hottest team in the league with a 17-13 overall record and 11-1 in conference play. They are riding an eight match win streak and nine of their 13 losses have come to nationally ranked teams. They will be looking for their first ever win in Grand Rapids in over a decade... Sophomore Outside, Robbie Berg, ranks #7 in the nation (1st in region) in kills with 388 and averages 3.73/set (2nd in the region). She also ranks #2 in the nation with 75 aces. MCC has six players in top 50 of the nation in aces. They lead the nation in aces and service errors. Libero, Sami Hockstra is 3rd in the region with 51 aces & 7th in region with 4.67 digs/set. Freshman Middle, Julie Brown, is 8th in region with 75 blocks. She also is 7th in region with 229 kills and 10th with 37 aces.
Grand Rapids CC – The 1st place Raiders played just one match last week, sweeping Glen Oaks at home, improving their record to 18-1 and 11-0 in the conference. They have won 12 in row and their only loss came against then #1 ranked Parkland College. Freshman Outside, Kendra DeJonge, ranks #1 in the region (and 12th in nation) with 3.77 kills per set and 3rd in points/set with 4.2. Sophomore Right Side, Hannah Stearns, averages 2.81 kills/set and is hitting .307. She is 2nd on the team with 54 blocks behind Freshman Middle, Kayla Salyer, who has 61 total blocks. The Helsen twins are the top two in digs and aces. Peyton has 253 digs (4.15/set) and Lauren 206 (3.07/set). They both have 21 aces. Freshman Middle, Ally German, is 4th on the team in kills with 90, and it hitting a team best .374.
WHATS AT STAKE: After this match, the Raiders will have just four matches remaining in the regular season, while the Jayhawks will have five left. A win for the Raiders, and it almost guarantees them their 7th conference title in the past nine years and a first round bye in regionals. If the Jayhawks win tonight and both teams win out, both teams with be co-conference champs and it would come down to a tiebreaker procedure to determine who gets the first round bye.
