Box Score Grand Rapids, Mich. – The 7th ranked Raiders maintained their conference lead after beating the visiting Kellogg Bruins in three sets to improve their record to 19-2 overall and 12-1 in the conference. The Bruins dropped to 7-14 overall and 3-10 in the conference. Both teams now have just three matches left in conference play and the Raiders are a full game up on second place, Muskegon CC. Set scores: 25-15, 25-23, 25-16.
The Raiders led wire-to-wire in the opening set cruising to a 25-15 win. Freshman defensive specialist, Mykayla Vallad (Rockford, MI), finished off the set with two straight aces. One of the nation's top attackers, Kendra DeJonge (Rockford, MI) led the offense attack once again with five of the Raiders 14 total kills. Four other Raiders had two kills and Sophomore Libero, Kelsie Schultz (Fruitport, MI), led the defense with 6 of the teams 24 digs.
The second set was back and forth and the Raiders nearly gave away the set with a total of 14 errors (nine hitting, two serving, two ball handling and one reception), but they hung on to a 25-23 victory. A reversed call by the officials, gave Freshman Middle/Right Side, Lauren Jonker (Grand Haven, MI) her third kill to make it 24-23 and then Freshman, Breanna Wickerink (Lake Odessa, MI), finished off the set with her set high fourth kill! The Raiders hit just .103 with 13 kills and the nine errors.
The final set wasn't even close. The Raiders regrouped, found their rhythm again as they did in the opening set to cruise to a 25-16 win. Grand Rapids nearly hit .500 and as they ripped off 14 more kills with just one hitting error. DeJonge saved her best for the last, and after sitting out the second set, the All-American ripped off seven kills with no errors, hitting a season best .778! The Raiders other starting outside, Dani Johnston (Comstock Park, MI), added three kills and hit .429.
DeJonge finished the match with 12 kills and hit .417, while adding seven digs. Jonker hit a team best .545 with 6 kills and zero errors. Johnston and Wickerink had seven kills each while Freshman, Emma Pachulski (Belding, MI), added five kills with no errors of her own! Fourteen different Raiders had at least one dig with Schultz leading the way with 12.
For the third straight match, the Raiders rested their starting Middles, Ally German (Fruitport, MI) and Kayla Salyer (Coopersville, MI) and for the third straight time they swept their opponents. That makes 13 of the 19 wins this season where the Raiders have swept the opposition. The win also makes it nine straight after suffering their first conference loss in 50 matches a couple weeks ago to Lansing CC. The calendars are marked though as the Stars and Raiders will do battle once more, in the conference finale on October 23rd in Lansing.
The Raiders will have the weekend off, but have a busy week ahead of them. Tuesday, October 16th they travel to Jackson to take on the Jets and then Thursday they play host to the Kalamazoo Valley Cougars. The following two days they will take part in the Lincoln Land Invite where they will play the 2nd ranked Parkland College Cobras as well as three other elite programs.
Game Notes:
-It was the 21st sweep in the past 11 seasons over Kellogg Community College.
-The Raiders in the "Chip Will" era (12 seasons) are now 24-2 against Kellogg, including winners of 24 in a row!
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