VOLLEYBALL REGIONALS BRACKET

Nov. 9, 2024, PORT HURON, Mich. -- The No. 12 ranked Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team will be heading back to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to compete for a national championship after defeating Lansing Community College in the regional final 3-1 on Saturday afternoon.

After cruising through both its opponents on Thursday, and beating Lansing on Friday night, the Raiders (25-2) had to take on the Stars again in the championship on Saturday. 

GRCC breezed past the Stars in set one, 25-16, but Lansing found some rhythm in set two and evened the match up after winning 25-17. 

Both teams played a competitive third set before Lizzie MacIntosh's kill made it 18-17 and the Raiders never looked back, winning the set 25-18 after an Ava Schultz and Lilly Peterson combo block. 

The Raiders offense saved its best play of the day in the fourth and deciding set, as they had 14 kills against just one error, hitting .371 and coming out victorious 25-15.

Taylor Kik was named the tournament's most valuable player after posting 76 kills in four matches, including a career high 32 in Friday's match.  She also added 34 digs and five blocks.

Freshman setter Ava Tarsi and sophomore middle Lillian Peterson joined Kik on the all-tournament team.  Tarsi finished with 122 assists, including a career high 52 on Friday, while adding 33 digs and a team high nine aces.  Peterson had 31 kills, three aces and a team high 16 blocks. 

Sophomore pin hitters MacIntosh and Schultz also had 31 kills, and combined for 28 digs and 15 blocks.

Libero Cece Huizingh led the team with 55 digs and added six aces.  Meredith Simmons also had six aces to go with her 28 digs. Sylvia Peterson added 33 digs. 

After winning the conference, the MCCAA and the regional championship, GRCC now sets its eyes on its second national championship.  The Raiders will find out who its first opponent in nationals is next week.  The tournament is double-elimination, taking place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 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.