OCT. 4, 2026, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The No. 16 Grand Rapids Community College volleyball team went 3-1 at its home Raider Challenge over the weekend, improving to 11-5 overall while continuing to pile up impressive offensive numbers and individual milestones.
The Raiders opened the weekend Saturday with a dominant 3-0 victory over first-time opponent Kirtland Community College, winning 25-7, 25-17, 25-11 to extend their winning streak to seven matches and their streak of consecutive sets won to 21.
GRCC was in control from the opening serve, hitting .500 in the first set while recording seven aces. The Raiders added five more aces in each of the second and third sets, finishing the third set with a .412 hitting percentage.
All 16 Raiders saw action in the match.
Sophomores Kirstyn Lothschultz and Kaylee Kranz led the attack with 13 and nine kills, respectively. Lothschultz hit .455, while Kranz hit .444. Ella Thayer led the Raiders with 10 digs and four aces, while Breslyn Zache recorded a career-high 18 assists. Payton Taylor added 14 assists and three aces. Defensive specialists Olivia Inthout and Garnet Mullet combined for 15 digs and six aces.
The Raiders then faced their toughest test of the weekend against No. 13 Mott Community College, falling 3-1 after taking the opening set, 25-22. Mott entered the weekend 20-1 and improved to 21-1 with the victory.
GRCC trailed 22-21 in the opening set before closing on a four-point run. Inthout delivered two aces during the stretch, and Lothschultz closed out the set with a kill.
The Raiders continued to battle in the second set, overcoming a five-point deficit to tie the score at 24-24 before Mott eventually prevailed 26-24. Mott controlled the third set, 25-20, while the fourth set featured another back-and-forth battle that was tied at 17-17 before the Bears pulled away to win 25-20.
GRCC's right sides turned in standout performances against Mott. Freshman Charlee Cochran posted a career-high 18 kills, including six in the second set, while hitting a career-best .500. Vanessa Walker recorded her sixth career triple-double with 15 kills, 21 assists and 10 digs while hitting .355.
Inthout led all Raiders with 21 digs and added five of the team's 10 aces. Avery Powers led GRCC with four blocks.
The Raiders bounced back Sunday with two convincing sweeps, beginning with a 25-11, 25-11, 25-16 victory over North Central Michigan College. The win improved GRCC to a perfect 9-0 all-time against the Timberwolves, with every meeting ending in a Raider sweep.
GRCC hit .408 as a team, including an outstanding .516 in the second set, when the Raiders recorded 17 kills with just one error.
Walker was nearly flawless offensively, posting a career-high .824 hitting percentage with 14 kills and zero errors on 17 attempts. She also contributed seven assists, three aces and three blocks. Carmen Rozelle added a career-high three blocks.
All 16 Raiders saw action, with 14 players recording at least one point. Zache led the team with 11 assists and added eight digs, while Mullet contributed eight digs and two aces.
GRCC closed the tournament with another 3-0 victory, defeating Oakland Community College 25-14, 25-15, 25-15. The win marked the Raiders' 10th consecutive victory over Oakland.
The Raiders hit .425 as a team — their second-best hitting percentage of the season — with 10 players hitting at least .350. Walker, Lothschultz and Kranz each recorded eight kills. Walker also led the team with 12 assists and three aces.
Inthout paced the defense with a match-high 15 digs and added two aces and even contributed a kill. Powers finished with five kills and a team-high three blocks.
The strong weekend also produced several individual milestones. Lothschultz, Kranz and Walker all surpassed 100 kills for the season.
As a team, the Raiders finished the Raider Challenge with 169 kills, 48 aces and a .332 hitting percentage across the four matches.
GRCC will return to conference play Tuesday, Oct. 6, traveling to Southwestern Michigan College for a battle for first place. First serve is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
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