OCT. 29, 2026, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The No. 13 Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team saved one of its biggest accomplishments for sophomore night, sweeping Southwestern Michigan College 3-0 Thursday, to capture the outright Western Conference championship and complete an undefeated conference season.
The victory marked the Raiders' 10th consecutive win, improving their overall record to 19-5 and their conference mark to a perfect 14-0. GRCC secured at least a share of its 16th conference championship earlier in the week, but Thursday's victory gave the Raiders the outright title.
Even more impressive, it marked the 10th time in program history that the Raiders have finished conference play undefeated among their 16 total conference championships.
The evening also provided an opportunity to recognize eight sophomores who have helped build the program's success: Vanessa Walker, Ella Thayer, Payton Taylor, Garnet Mullet, Kirstyn Lothschultz, Zella Hutchings, Olivia Inthout and Kaylee Kranz.
The Raiders opened the match with a competitive first set, trading points with the Roadrunners before taking the lead for good at 14-13. GRCC's offense found its rhythm, recording 16 kills with just two hitting errors to secure a 25-21 victory. Lothschultz led the way with five kills in the set.
The second set featured another close finish. GRCC built leads of 19-13 and 20-14, but Southwestern Michigan responded with a five-point run to pull within one at 21-20. The Roadrunners eventually tied the set at 26, but a Hutchings kill followed by a four-contact violation against SMC gave the Raiders a hard-fought 28-26 win and a commanding two-set advantage.
The third set belonged entirely to GRCC. The Raiders cruised to a 25-18 victory, recording another 16 kills with just two attacking errors while hitting a match-best .318 to finish off the sweep.
GRCC finished the night with nine service aces and was aced just twice by the Roadrunners. The Raiders also outhit Southwestern Michigan .250 to .167.
Lothschultz, who entered the match coming off three consecutive conference Player of the Week honors, once again led the Raiders with 11 kills. She committed just two hitting errors while hitting .333, added four service aces and came up with a big solo block late in the third set.
Thayer contributed six kills, a team-high 24 receptions and eight digs, while Hutchings added eight kills, a block and a service ace.
Inthout led all players with 20 digs and recorded 22 receptions. Taylor paced the Raiders with 21 assists, while Charlee Cochran, Avery Powers and Kranz combined for 21 kills and five blocks.
With the conference championship secured, the Raiders now turn their attention to postseason play.
GRCC earned the West's No. 1 seed for next week's Region XII Tournament. The Raiders will open regional play Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. against the winner of the North Central Michigan College and Schoolcraft College matchup.
Before beginning regional competition, however, GRCC will have an opportunity to capture another championship. The Raiders will travel to Bay College for the MCCAA Tournament, where they will look to claim their 13th MCCAA championship and sixth consecutive title.
The Raiders will face Eastern Conference champion St. Clair County Community College in the semifinals Sunday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m. A victory would advance GRCC to the championship match against Northern Conference champion Bay College, which receives an automatic berth in the final as the tournament host.
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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.
