ALLENDALE, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball team wrapped up the weekend with a straight-set defeat at No. 18 Grand Valley State on Saturday afternoon at GVSU Fieldhouse Arena, 19–25, 18–25, 19–25. The Cardinals (4-6, 0-2 GLIAC) finished with 25 kills, 40 digs, 2 aces and 3.0 total blocks.
SVSU's attack was paced by Rachel Townsend (Oxford, Mich. / Oxford HS) with 8 kills and 2 blocks. Cola Sisk (Lake Fenton, Mich. / Lake Fenton HS), Ava Decker (Elkhart, Ind. / Elkhart HS) and Finley Helm (Mount Pleasant, Mich. / Mount Pleasant HS) added 4 kills apiece, while Marissa Roe (Valparaiso, Ind. / Chesterton High School) and Kendall Ihm (Owosso, Mich. / Owosso HS) chipped in 2 each. Setter Ava Beard (Berkley, Mich. / Berkley HS) handed out 20 assists and served one ace while Kendall White (DeWitt, Mich. / St. John's HS) collected a team-high 14 digs and an ace.
Set One (19–25)
After an opening SVSU sideout, Grand Valley strung together a 4–0 burst, helped by an early ace. The Cardinals answered with a small run fueled by a White ace and a Beard ace to get back within striking distance, then closed late on back-to-back Decker kills to reach 19 before the Lakers finished it.
Set Two (18–25)
A back-and-forth frame featured a flurry from Townsend and Sisk, including a Helm service ace and a block by Roe and Townsend putting SVSU ahead ahead 16–15. Grand Valley answered with a decisive run to 22–16, and despite two late SVSU points, the hosts closed 25–18.
Set Three (19–25)
SVSU traded points early behind Townsend and Roe, then used a three-point spurt—two opponent errors forced by Helm swings and another miscue—to pull within 17-20. Grand Valley responded with the final push to complete the sweep
Up Next: Saginaw Valley volleyball heads home for the first time this season. The Cardinals host the Northwood Timberwolves for the last non-conference match of the year on Tuesday, September 23. SVSU and NU are set for a 6:00 PM start from the Hamilton Gymnasium. It is Hometown Day with buy one get one free tickets online with code VBHometown25.
