Oct. 5, 2025, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The 15th-ranked Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team capped off a dominant weekend at its own Raider Challenge with two more wins on Sunday, finishing the event a perfect 4-0 and stretching its overall win streak to 11 matches. The Raiders now stand at 13-2 overall heading into a crucial conference showdown this week.

GRCC opened the day with a statement victory over a strong Southwestern Michigan College squad, which had entered the match on a six-match win streak. After dropping the opening set — snapping the Raiders' 16-set win streak — GRCC roared back to win three straight, taking the match 3-1 (17-25, 25-15, 25-17, 25-22).

The first set saw the Raiders struggle offensively, committing 10 hitting errors and three reception errors with no team blocks. But the response was immediate: GRCC jumped out to an 8-1 lead in set two and never looked back, hitting a match-high .290 in the third and holding off the Roadrunners in a tight fourth set that featured eight lead changes.

Match 1 leaders:

• Kills: Taylor Kik (16), Allie McGlothlen (9), Christina Williams (9), Vanessa Walker (8), Kirstyn Lothschultz (7), Kaylee Kranz (7)
• Assists: Walker (career-high 31), Ava Tarsi (7)
• Aces: Walker (3), Lothschultz (2), Garnet Mullet (2)
• Digs: Walker (career-high 18), Kik (12), Cece Huizingh (9), Mullet (8)
• Blocks: Walker (2), Kik (2 solos), Williams (2), Lothschultz (2)

In the tournament finale, the Raiders made quick work of Oakland Community College, cruising to a 3-0 sweep (25-12, 25-11, 25-19) to close out the weekend in style. GRCC showcased its depth as all 16 players saw action, and all but three recorded at least one point. The team hit .344 for the match, including an impressive .455 in set two.

Match 2 leaders:

• Kills: Kik (12), Mady Jessee (season-high 4), Lothschultz (4), Kranz (4)
• Assists: Payton Taylor (15), Tarsi (13)
• Aces: Jessee (career-high 3), Ella Thayer (2), Taylor (2)
• Digs: Kik (8), Mullet (8), Thayer (7)
• Blocks: Jessee (career-high 3), Ella Gapczynski (season-high 3), Williams (2), Lothschultz (2)

Over the course of the four-match weekend, the Raiders hit .287 as a team, totaling 184 kills and 35 aces in another balanced display of power and consistency.

Tournament leaders:

• Kills: Kik (49, .290), McGlothlen (26, .278), Walker (24, .444), Kranz (22, .255)
• Assists: Walker (56), Tarsi (47), Taylor (34)
• Aces: Walker (7), Mullet (7), Taylor (4)
• Digs: Huizingh (31), Walker (30), Kik (29), Thayer (21), Mullet (20)
• Blocks: Williams (9), Lothschultz (9), Jessee (5), Zella Hutchings (5)

Head Coach Chip Will praised his team's resiliency and depth throughout the weekend:

"After that first set against Southwestern, our team showed great maturity and composure. Every player stepped up and contributed this weekend, which is exactly what you want heading into the toughest part of the season."

The road ahead doesn't get any easier for the Raiders. GRCC will travel to Muskegon Community College on Wednesday, October 8, for a battle of conference unbeatens. Muskegon has also won ten straight matches, setting up a marquee showdown for first place in the Northern Conference standings.

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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.