Nov. 19, 2025, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – It was a busy and competitive Wednesday for Grand Rapids Community College Athletics, highlighted by a first-round victory and a thrilling five-set battle at the NJCAA Division II Volleyball National Championship, along with road wins for both the men's and women's basketball teams at Mott Community College.

VOLLEYBALL – NJCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Raiders Take Opening Match; Fall Just Short of Upset in Match Two

The No. 13-ranked GRCC volleyball team opened its national tournament run with a strong 3–0 sweep over No. 20 seed Pellissippi State Community College, winning 25-17, 25-20, 25-21.

Freshman standout Vanessa Walker recorded one of the most complete performances in program postseason history, posting a triple-double with 13 kills, 11 assists, 17 digs and 3 aces.
Taylor Kik added 12 kills, while Kaylee Kranz (8 kills), Kirsten Lothschultz (7) and Christina Williams (5) contributed to a balanced offensive attack.

Defensively, Cece Huizingh registered 10 digs and 3 aces, Ava Tarsi tallied 14 assists and 9 digs, and Garnet Mullet chipped in 9 digs and an ace.

In their second match of the day, the Raiders pushed No. 4 seed Kansas City Kansas CC to the brink in a gripping five-set battle, ultimately falling 2–3 (21-25, 25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 12-15) to snap their 23-match win streak.

After trailing 10-3 in the decisive fifth set, GRCC mounted a remarkable comeback to take a 12-11 lead, but KCKC scored the final four points to escape with the win.

Kik delivered a season-high 26 kills, hitting .265 on 68 swings. Walker added 6 kills, a team-high 28 assists, and 16 digs, while Tarsi recorded her second double-double of the season with 19 assists and 11 digs.

Williams contributed 6 kills and 2 blocks, and Allie McGlothen posted 6 kills, a team-best .385 hitting percentage, and a solo block.

Mullet led the back row, delivering a career-high 17 digs along with a career-best 5 aces.  Huizingh matched Mullet with 17 digs and Kranz added 7 kills and 10 digs.

The Raiders (now 24-3) will face No. 14 Neosho County CC on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. EST in a must-win matchup. A victory would set up an afternoon showdown with No. 5 Johnson County.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL – GRCC 62, MOTT CC 53

The GRCC women's basketball team earned a gritty 62–53 road victory to improve to 4–2 on the season.

After trailing 22-9 at the end of the first quarter, the Raiders took control by outscoring Mott in each of the final three periods. With the game tied at 51-51, Alison Rockburn found Sophia Wozniak for a clutch jumper that sparked an 11-0 run, holding Mott scoreless until the final seconds.

Wozniak finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks, while Tianna Daye led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting.

Averi Peot added 9 points and 9 rebounds, and Harmonie Belton posted 9 points and 8 boards to power GRCC's interior effort.

The Raiders return to action on Nov. 24 at Kirtland CC (5:30 p.m.).

MEN'S BASKETBALL – GRCC 112, MOTT CC 91

The GRCC men's basketball team stayed unbeaten, improving to 5–0 with an impressive 112–91 victory on the road.

The Raiders shot 52% from the field, 45% from three, and committed just 8 turnovers while forcing 22 from Mott.

Nate Keil delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game- and season-high 26 points (10-16 FG, 5-8 3FG) with 6 rebounds.

Jared Demoff added 15 points, Gaden Muxlow scored a season-high 14, and Mcrecco McFadden (14 pts, season-high 5 reb) and Zeek Jackson (14 pts, 5 reb) provided balanced scoring.

Tyran Thomas added 13 points, and EJ Bowman fueled the offense with 10 assists and 5 steals, both season bests.

Head coach Joe Fox praised the team's effort, saying: "Great energy tonight right from the start. Highlights included big nights from Muxlow, Demoff and McFadden who were all playing close to home. Can't say enough about Keil as well — every time the team needed a bucket he delivered."

GRCC returns home on Nov. 22 at 4 p.m. to host Henry Ford College.

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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.