Nov. 1, 2025, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – It was a memorable day for Grand Rapids Community College Athletics, as four Raider teams were in action on Saturday, combining for four victories in five games — highlighted by the volleyball team's 12th MCCAA Championship in program history.

Volleyball Captures MCCAA Title

The No. 13-ranked GRCC volleyball team dominated the competition at St. Clair County Community College, winning both matches to claim the MCCAA Championship. The Raiders swept Southwestern Michigan College in the semifinals, 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-19), before defeating the host Skippers in a thrilling five-set championship match, 3-2 (25-11, 23-25, 19-25, 25-17, 15-3).

In the semifinal victory over Southwestern Michigan, GRCC hit .389 in the opening set and controlled the match from start to finish. Taylor Kik and Vanessa Walker led the way with 15 combined kills in the first set alone. The Raiders tallied 22 points off kills, aces, and blocks in set two — including a season-best seven blocks — and finished the third set perfect from the service line.

Kik paced the Raiders with 14 kills, hitting .423 with nine digs and five blocks, while Walker turned in a triple-double with 10 kills (no errors), 16 digs, and 16 assists. Christina Williams added seven kills and five blocks, and Kaylee Kranz chipped in nine kills.

In the championship match against host St. Clair County, GRCC came out hot, hitting .429 in the first set before battling through momentum swings to pull away late and dominate the fifth set, 15-3. Kik led all players with a season-high 24 kills, hitting .283 with 15 digs and four blocks.

Kirstyn Lothschultz was outstanding with 10 kills on .588 hitting, Walker added 26 assists, 16 digs, and seven kills, and setter Ava Tarsi contributed 21 assists. Williams had six kills, three aces, and five blocks, while Cece Huizingh set career highs with 24 digs and tied a career high with five aces. Kranz also reached double-digit kills with 11 on .429 hitting.

The win marked GRCC's 12th MCCAA Championship in program history and extended their win streak to 19 matches, improving to 21-2 overall. The Raiders will host the opening round of the NJCAA Great Lakes District B tournament on Thursday, Nov. 6, against either Mott or Lansing Community College.

Basketball Teams Tip Off Season with Victories

Both GRCC basketball teams opened their seasons strong at the BC Pizza Petoskey Timberwolves Tip-Off Tournament, earning wins over Kirtland Community College.

Women's Basketball stormed to a 74-52 victory behind a stifling defense that forced 44 turnovers, including 21 steals — with 11 different Raiders recording at least one.

• Averi Peot led the team with 15 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night, adding five rebounds.
• Harmonie Belton added 13 points (6-for-8 FG), three assists, and three steals.
• Tianna Daye scored 12 points with three steals, and Sophia Wozniak chipped in nine points and three steals.
• Avery DePagter grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

The Raiders will face host North Central Michigan College on Sunday to conclude the tournament.

Men's Basketball also opened with an impressive win, defeating Kirtland 93-81.

• Zeekeal Jackson led the way with 21 points, hitting four of five from beyond the arc, while adding seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.
• Tyran Thomas contributed 16 points and five rebounds, and Zachary Carlson added 14 points, hitting 4-of-6 from three.
• McRecco McFadden added 15 points and five boards, and Lucas Pitsch led the team with eight rebounds.

The men will also face North Central Michigan on Sunday to close out the weekend.

Women's Soccer Concludes Historic Season

The GRCC women's soccer team's historic season came to an end Saturday in the NJCAA Region XII semifinals with a 3-0 loss to No. 10-ranked Schoolcraft College. The Raiders, who earned their first-ever postseason victory earlier in the week, finished the year 7-7-2 overall.

GRCC managed just two shots against the nationally ranked Ocelots, while goalkeepers Nyleese Bazan-Hernandez and Ava Groeneveld split time in net. Bazan-Hernandez stopped seven of the 10 shots on goal she faced.

For all the latest news, you can also follow the Raiders on:

  
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.