Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 VOLLEYBALL REGIONALS BRACKET

Nov. 3, 2024, LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 12 ranked Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team won two matches on Saturday, one in reverse sweep fashion, to earn its 11th Michigan Community College Athletic Association title.

The men's soccer team didn't fare as well, ending another fantastic season after a 3-1 loss in the regional semis.  Elijah Maas had the teams lone goal, on a penalty kick in the 12th minute of the game.  The soccer team, in just its second year, finished 8-6-4. Maas led the team in goals (7) and assists (11). 

The men's and women's basketball teams were also in action, dropping single-digit games against its opponents.  The men's team (1-1) lost a nail biter to DuPage 86-83, despite 24 points from freshman Marshaun Flakes. The women's team (0-2) lost 55-47 to Black Hawk College, despite a game high 17 points from Tianna Daye. 

Back in Lansing, the Raiders volleyball team started its day against Mott Community College, a very tough team who won the MCCAA Eastern Conference and was riding a 19-match win streak. 

GRCC jumped out to a 7-1 lead against Mott, but the Bears clawed back to take the first set, 25-17.  The Raiders would regroup and respond by winning the final three sets, 25-21, 25-22, 25-16 to advance to the championship match. 

In the finals, the Raiders would take on another solid team, Lansing Community College, who also finished undefeated in its Western Conference title season.  

Lansing came out strong, cruising to a 25-16 first set win and finished off set two on a 12-2 run to win 25-20.

With its back against the walls, the Raiders made a few adjustments to its lineup in set three, and it proved to be the correct formula as the team defeated Lansing 25-20 after hitting .423. 

The same lineup proved to be the difference maker as the Raiders took sets four and five 25-16 and 15-11 to complete the reverse sweep and win the championship.

In the final set, the Raiders offense was almost flawless, hitting .440 on 11 kills and no errors. Sophomore pin hitter, Ava Schultz, had the championship winning kill. 

By the numbers, GRCC (21-2) has now won 19 matches in a row after its fourth straight MCCAA title, and eighth title in the past nine seasons.  The reverse sweep was the teams first since 2017. 

Individually, freshman standout Taylor Kik had another one of those days. After 19 kills against Mott, Kik totaled a career high 30 kills in the final match, including eight kills in sets three and five.  She also finished with a team high five aces on the day.

Lizzie MacIntosh had one of her best days as a Raider as well.  The sophomore had 17 kills against Mott and 10 more against Lansing while hitting a team best .349 for the day. She also had a team high 26 digs and added four blocks. 

Freshman setter Ava Tarsi had a career high 45 assists against Lansing to give her over 400 on the season.  

Lillian Peterson, last week's conference player of the week, had 16 kills on the day and a team high six blocks. 

GRCC now sets its eyes on a regional championship.  Its first match will be against Macomb Community College at 4 pm on Nov. 7. Should they win, they will play again at 8 pm on Thursday.  The tournament is double-elimination with the champion qualifying for nationals that take place Nov. 20-23. 

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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.