Nov. 5, 2021, PORT HURON, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team avoided elimination by winning two matches Friday in the NJCAA Region XII Great Lakes B Tournament.

Associate head coach David Rawles said he was very pleased by the way the team responded to a tough loss against Muskegon Community College in the tournament's opening round on Thursday.

The Jayhawks snapped GRCC's 18-match winning streak, and a loss on Friday would have ended the season for the Michigan Community College Athletic Association champions.

"Our dancing shoes are still on," Rawles said. "We're excited to advance to championship Saturday and although it's going to be a tough task, I believe we have what it takes to get back to the big dance."
In Friday's opening match, GRCC faced Glen Oaks Community College, which finished third in the MCCAA Western Conference this year.

GRCC had already beaten Glen Oaks twice this year, and defeated the Vikings in three sets, 25-19, 25-20, 26-24.  Annie Holesinger, a sophomore from Rockford, led the Raiders with 11 kills and five blocks.
In the second match, the Raiders took on the Stars of Lansing Community College, which eliminated Kalamazoo Valley from the tournament earlier in the day.

All 15 GRCC players contributed in the win as the Raiders dominated the Stars, 25-18, 25-14, and 25-13.

GRCC hit a solid .326 for the match. Audrey Torres, a freshman from Caledonia, had her ninth double-double of the season with an 11 kill, 10 dig performance.

GRCC will have to beat Muskegon on Saturday at 11 a.m. to have a shot at playing in the NJCAA DII National Tournament. If the Raiders emerge victorious over Muskegon, the team will have to beat a tough Terra State Community College squad, ranked No. 7 in the nation, twice.