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Grand Rapids, Mich. -- The women's volleyball team is set to have their season opener at home vs Glen Oaks Community College. It will have been 468 days since the Raiders last played a home match, Coach Will and the Raiders are looking forward to begin playing. The team had the season moved from the fall to the spring season, with a reduced schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season will include 12 conference games, the post season District tournament, as well as the NJCAA DII National Tournament for qualifying teams.

The Raiders are entering the 2021 season after a successful 2019 season. The Raiders finished the 2019 season with a 33-7 overall record, winning the MCCAA Western Conference Championship, the MCCAA State Championship, the NJCAA District B Tournament and finished fifth at Nationals, tying their second best finish after a 2012 National Championship.

The Raiders return four sophomores, while adding a one transfer to the sophomore class.

Outside Hitter, Annie Holesinger returns after being named MCCAA Western Conference Freshman of the Year, All Region, 1^st Team All-Conference and NJCAA Great Lakes District B All-Tournament Team. She finished the 2019 season 2^nd on the team in kills (376), 2^nd in kills per set (2.91), and 3^rd in total blocks (73). She recorded career highs last year against Glen Oaks on 9/26/2019 with 17 kills and 13 digs, as well as scoring 18 total points.

Sophomore setter, Kailey Carmean returns for the Raiders after finishing 2^nd on the team in assists during the 2019 season with 421 assists and 1^st in assists per set with 4.05. She picked up a career high of 26 assists with a win over Muskegon CC on 10/3/2019 and tallied 16 digs against Oakland CC on 9/28/2019.

Gabi Kitley returns as an outside hitter for the Raiders. During her freshman season, she recorded a career high of 12 kills vs Vincennes University on 8/31/19, and 10 digs against Muskegon on 9/3/2019.

Middle Blocker, Kylie Oberlin returns for the Raiders after being named Honorable Mention All-Conference and NJCAA District B All-Tournament team during the 2019 season. Oberlin tied a career high of 12 kills in the Raiders final match of the 2019 season against 4th ranked Fort Scott on 11/23/2019, and recorded 7 blocks against Glen Oaks on 11/9/2019. She finished the 2019 season first on the team in blocks.

New to the 2021 roster is sophomore transfer, Haley Stewart (Waterford, MI). Stewart spent the 2019 season with the Oakland CC Raiders. She finished the 2019 season with 409 digs, 4.13 digs per set to lead the Raiders. She was named 2^nd Team All-Eastern Conference, was a member of the NJCAA Region XII District A All-Tournament Team and helped the Oakland Raiders to a District Championship and a National Tournament appearance.

The Raiders have six freshman on this year's roster. Defensive Specialist /Libero, Audrey Gower  from Holt, Middle Blocker Haley Dobry from Wayland, Outside Hitter Kara Hecht from Zeeland West, Setter/Right Side Zari Kruger from Lakewood, Defensive Specialist/Libero Savannah Stoepker from Lakewood and Freshman Middle Blocker Alena Visnovsky from Sparta.

With the COVID-19 Pandemic, the MCCAA Conference has currently decided that no spectators or fans will be allowed at games. GRCC will be live streaming all home games through their YouTube channel and are able to listen to the match via Michigan Sports Radio.

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Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.