>> Welcome back to an all new episode of the Grand Valley State sports report on wdvm.

I'm your host Jake Levy.

It's good to be home.

We're back in studio after a fun couple of weeks on the road with the women's basketball team will recap their final 4 run on this episode.

Dsu baseball won 2 of 3 on the road this week as they continue to find the rhythm Laker.

Lacrosse continues to dominate as they grab to home glee act wins.

GSU men's and women's tennis both won all of their matches over the weekend in Allendale rocket in Laker nation as the Grand Valley State sport report starts right now.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> The Grand Valley State women's basketball team's incredible season came to a close last week at the division to lead a falling in a national semifinal to the eventual champion Glenville state last Wednesday.

The Lakers finished the season at 31 in 3, the second most winds and second highest win percentage in program history.

The Lakers had a season to remember compiling a 22 game win streak to match the longest in program.

History and route.

2 ugly act regular season championship after strong non-conference wins over Missouri St. Louis Finley and Lewis early in the season.

The Lakers that went 18 1 in conference play.

They dropped ugly act opener to Saginaw Valley before beginning the lengthy win streak that encompass the rest of the regular season 3 Lakers earned first team all-conference honors and Riley baseball lead Rusty and Emily Spitz Lee, this ball along with Hadley Miller and senior quite Stanton earned all glee act.

The defensive honors as dsu led the nation in scoring defense for much of the season head coach Mike Williams earned ugly act coach of the year honors for the championship season.

There were some trials and tests throughout the street.

They trail by 9 in the 3rd quarter on the road against North, what.

>> Before a 26 3 run that gave them a run away when Emily Spitz Lee, a buzzer beating 3 to force overtime and eventual road win at Michigan Tech.

They outlasted para state imposing road environment and had to finish the regular season against the only team to beat them to that point of the season.

The Lakers would avenge that loss Downing tacking on Valley in the regular season finale, but it could prove costly his ball into her hand, forcing her to miss the conference tournament as the one see the Lakers would host the championship after a huge scoring performance, including 5, 3, pointers and had a coup last help the Lakers run away from northern Michigan in the quarter finals.

The Lakers beat Michigan Tech in the semi setting up a 3rd meeting of the year.

But the glee Akron or a Ferris state, a slow offensive.

Start with the Lakers down double digits with 4 minutes to go, they would rally to get back within 3 but a top step back 3 from the Bulldogs, put the game out of reach ending the winning streak and forcing the Lakers to watch Ferris state cut down the Nets in the GSU Fieldhouse.

Alina.

>> The loss.

Just the second of the season for GSU was surprisingly enough to drop the Lakers from the top seed in the Midwest region to the to see forcing them to travel south to Ashland, Ohio for the regional bracket of the nca tournament.

They bounced back with a lopsided win over fellow glee acts school.

Wayne state in the quarter finals venue stifling defense to power past 3 seed worry and to time WBC a national player of the year paid Robinson gray who lost 3 of their 4 games with Robinson out with injury had many believing they were the most dangerous team in the country after Walt upset the top-seeded eagles in the semis, the Cavaliers and D 2 CCA regional player of the year.

Shea Carter stood in the way the Lakers trip to the Elite 8 in Birmingham, Alabama.

>> The Lakers trailed by a point at the half and were down 7 midway through the 4th quarter in a raucous environment with both fans and fan base is in full throat.

Trustee took over the game, scoring 13 over 19 points in the 4th quarter, including the game, tying jumper and go ahead.

3 on back to back possessions as the Lakers pulled away then held on late for a three-point win 64 to 61 to cut down the Nets and punch their ticket to the final site of division 2 women's basketball.

The Lakers return to Allendale for a week of practice and preparation.

One more adversity struck the day before the team was set to depart for Alabama.

Their head coach had to go North.

Instead.

Mike Williams mother suffered a heart attack and one fortunately passed away Sunday with Mike by her side in Wisconsin.

The regional and conference coach of the year flew into Alabama Monday morning.

>> Just hours ahead of his team's national quarter-final with Missouri.

Western.

The Laker defense was even stingier than advertised as tvs.

You ran away with a 6744 win over the Griffins that set up a highly anticipated showdown between the top scoring defense in the country and the number one scoring offense in Division.

2 in the semifinals for the first 3 quarters.

Defense reign supreme.

>> The Lakers had a 29 27 lead at the half and trailed 48 43 early in the 4th quarter but glennville caught fire from 3 through a slew of fouls and their deep rotation and constant full court press finally wore down the short-handed Lakers to a final score of 77 to 53 ending tvs use run with just 2 graduating seniors, a huge promising class of freshman that record this season and some impressive growth from the returning players.

If the Lakers continue to put in the work.

This could be a year that serves as the foundation on which this team can build to national prowess with the 7th straight NCAA tournament.

Appearance.

3rd national semifinal in school history.

There is plenty to be proud of for this Laker team.

And after the Final 4 last head coach Mike Williams and graduating senior Samantha carols and quite Stanton's reflected on what this season and tournament run meant to them in this program.

Take a listen.

>> The team had to Glenn Miller.

Great team.

We knew that coming in.

You know, we've been watching film on him.

You know, one in know that what they're capable of.

And you know, 1st half, we can if we can slow down a little bit.

And I thought we did a good job can take care of all shown some composure in the 2nd half with ought to get in to us a little bit.

We've got rattled we want is discipline and obviously team like that.

You you know, those cherries, if you're not great in those 2 areas in separate 90 which they did, you know.

And so my hats off to those guys are 18.

And from day one, they just kind of stayed with everything.

You know, they view.

You know, I think he might want to toughest regions.

You know, stay with it lost a very good player.

Stay with it.

You know, head head cut down some games.

Stay with it.

And I thought there's just a team that was just together, that there is to together team.

And you know, we talked about the locker room.

You got to seniors that just both put the team first.

You know, the Bulls said the team is the most important things when we're seen as they do that.

It was kind of follow suit and then that's what they do.

Put the team first.

And so I thought we team that wasn't crazy talented.

You didn't see anybody.

We don't have the Americans, you know, the player in the conference you and but they but they kind of collectively as a group, but instead they want to be successful.

And I think that's what they did this year.

Some stream problem, especially these 2 players right here.

These 2 young ladies are just special.

Special people.

>> The Valley is a very special place.

Its pen, a heck of a ride being here on being a part of a possible team for 4 years now need to the Final 4 is no easy task by any means.

I'm so extremely proud of the day in and day out grind that this team went through on it.

Just takes a lot of perseverance and I know a lot of people know that in order to get to this point.

It's it's a tough tough and I'm just so it's a crowd of this group in the way that we can deliver speaking.

I know it's not the outcome that we're hoping for.

But on.

There's nothing here has come to the season that we have.

>> Into the fight for you and me to and you see why the for Grandma.

I didn't want to [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> dsu baseball won 2 of their 3 games on the road at Ohio Dominican this weekend that he now sits at 15 7 overall as they are for their first home games of the season.

Joining us now to talk about his team's head coach James Italian coast.

A final tune-up before glee act.

You go on the road are supposed to play for weather, had other plans.

Only get 3 in to take 2 of 3 against really good Ohio Dominican T. >> Yeah, I was.

I was really happy to come back 2 out of 3 any time in the region.

You can come back 3 out of 4, 2, out of 3 good weekend.

They threw a pretty good arm at us.

The first game and give us some fits.

And you know, we change his schedule around and no excuses.

We've got to come out ready to play.

We did sit on a bus for 5 half 6 hours getting down there and it was my fault.

I'm I guess I just have our guys ready.

You know, ready to go right away, but they really responded well on Friday.

So good to see.

>> Had back to back weekends.

Now it's kind of get in the mindset ready for the glee.

Actor look like the rest of the way.

But we're going to be looking for these last couple of weeks coming back from Florida to play all those games.

Double header set schedule shifting around now to get back into that rotation.

>> Well, as we get back from Florida.

It's it's every year here.

It's basically getting out in our field, get some consistency getting quality, batting practice.

And I can you know, you can look at the numbers and statistics last 2 weekends in mchenry know how them in a can.

And really the offense is come along.

And that's really one of the things this time of year that we look for the consistency of that, you know, in addition, our pitching has been thrown great the whole time in addition to keeping some of those guys fresh.

You know, you play 3 games and I've got 3, 4, 5, arms and I still want to get into a game so that becomes a challenge.

When you play 3 versus 4, I really like the death of our pitching staff.

So I'd really like to get more arms and when we can.

But right now consistencies everything for us.

You look at what Christian thousands doing.

I was going to get to him next.

Or am I won't leave him out after 9 RBI is in one day for the double header.

But it's good to see a senior like that with the table being set coming through.

It seems like time and time again these last couple of weekends and taking advantage of those opportunities when their their shirt and Christians just been the epitome, just the epitome of great practice habits.

Everything he's doing in practice is showing up on the game field.

You know, terms of leadership in terms of work habits with his with the skill work.

He's a student of the game.

You know, just strategically X's and O's.

And I'm glad to see that.

It's coming to, you know, come to light on on the game field for him, too.

>> Obviously baseball's a grind.

And today, one day can be totally different from the next.

But as you said to off the bus a little bit sluggish in that first game against Ohio Dominican and bounce back the way not only are batters dipped.

Your pitching staff did in that second game as well as to show you the mental resilience of this team, even though it's still early.

>> It does.

I mean, we've had a handful of games like that already.

You know, just with the result that championship resolve is that is one of the values we talk about quite a bit in our program and just to see not only in game but the next day and just a bounce back and show up to the field ready to go started with a good batting practice and good infield outfield.

It carried over to the game just offices.

Again, we're pretty sharp h#*#*#* o#* Friday.

>> And on Friday it's in the guise that it would manufacture a run in almost every single inning.

Is that something you're looking forward to see.

My obvious of crooked numbers are always great.

But it seems like this that this team has the ability to constantly put a one or 2 and kind of where teams down that way on that.

>> I mean, these guys really feed well off of each other when one guy is going to guys are gone.

They're all gone.

So that's that's a good thing to see.

You know, the coaches will be able to push that and get that first guy going to get him movement.

But they really did a good job of feeding off of each other again in offices of the game because defense was pretty sound and pitching was pretty good, too.

>> Yeah.

Now you come back to your home field this weekend.

First time get to play games at home.

Last are the only got one home series and so knock on wood weather permitting will be able to get a home games in a little bit earlier this year.

Buckley Ackley also on the horizon as well.

Now, the game kind of changes a little bit.

>> Yeah.

And you know, historically, the last 19 years that I've been a Grand Valley that's been the 20th.

You know, every year we held our own home.

We've done really well at home.

We take great pride in playing on our on our home field here.

So excited for that number one.

But number 2 in the gully at play.

You know, our conference has only gotten better over the years has been some some good players and good teams.

So right now this is kind of when the new season begins and hopefully we're ready to go.

>> What is the message to your team here this week, as you say, okay, that you had a couple really good weekend.

Some in region.

Winds that are big.

But obviously the glee actress where the bread and butter is.

I know this team that that runner-up finish last year.

That's going on their minds that quite a bit.

>> Yeah.

And right now just build.

Just keep continue to build continue to grind.

I really, really like our team right now and consistency.

If we can throw consistency and there continue to build each week.

>> I think we're going to like what we end up.

Well, it's been great to watch you guys on paper off to a great start.

I can't wait to see a live in-person place in real baseball this week.

Best of luck this weekend at home looking for to seeing.

All right.

Thanks, Rick.

We're back with more of the Grand Valley.

State sports report continues on WDTN [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] dsu men's and women's tennis had a pair of home matches this week with both Laker team securing wins against Lake Superior state.

Michigan Tech to us now to talk about or team's head coach Sam Scholl and coach.

You come back from Florida jumped right into glee act play.

That's going to be a tough transition for you guys become up to a good start.

2, 1, on the men's side and 3 on the women's.

Yeah.

Thanks, Jake.

>> It's interesting.

You go to Florida.

We play a lot of outdoor matches.

We hope the weather might begin.

We get back here to to start playing outdoors.

But we're back indoors against Paris playing in their place.

I was a good win for the women and a tough loss for them.

And so we were able to to move on and get some good wins this weekend.

>> How tough is it to try to mix and match this time of year sometimes are practicing outdoors.

Sometimes indoor.

I don't really know where the match is going to be until you see the forecast at the heart of the prepare for matches like that.

>> Exactly.

It can be.

But we just try to embrace it and adjust our games.

We need to.

Yeah.

It's a different game outdoors and indoors.

Some players are better outdoor.

Some players are better and or so she's a mental adjustment.

They got to manage water.

Maybe some of the bigger differences that you see between indoor and outdoor.

It's just faster indoors.

It's a little bit cleaner, a little bit more peer.

You know, there's not the elements to have to manage.

So for example, we played fares indoors.

They have some bigger guys, some stronger gusts and doubles right away.

They they overpowered us a little bit.

>> So we've got to adjust to that and catch up to the speed a little bit quicker next time a food plant indoors.

We bounced back nicely this week with a pair of wins against the U P school.

Tell us a bit about first that match up with Lake Superior state.

>> Yeah, it wasn't a good one to get just straight away for the men to bounce back from the fair's last.

They came in, take care to care of business.

We started a little bit later in the day as a late start time we played to clinch and they got it done doubles our first 3 guys got it done in single so far.

And.

>> And there's the guys don't don't play the match saw as good and then on the women's side, same thing.

They have been so focused really on top of it.

They've won every match in the conference so far in every match in the region so far.

So they're positioning themselves really well.

Yeah, they've done a great job of putting themselves in those kind of just I think we've seen very agreed to take over a little bit in that singles and the doubles really side as well.

Mary Lake took home the couple that the act tennis player of the week, which is nice to see as well as the 70's and individual words as well as inside.

Yes, be angry.

We have these 3 seniors on the women's side that have been here for 4 years that having a great season.

They're leading the way.

So it's nice to see them get those individual wars but also just to play good tennis.

I think they're a good place right now on the season and then you look at Michigan Tech in their own 6.

But out those matches are actually a lot closer even though you guys want to putting 6, 1, it still was a battle for much of that matchup.

Most of the nice little bit of fresh legs coming off the quick win over Lake Superior state help you guys see that one through.

>> Yeah, exactly.

They're a tough team.

They came out punching.

You know, a lot of these teams, they'll come play Grande Valley.

They throw everything they have.

So we have to to manage when they're playing well and and stick to our games.

I'm not panic when they're playing good tennis and and distrust that we have the level and we did.

>> Tennis can be such a mental grind throughout the long afternoons and some of those really long back and forth matches.

So to see your team to mention to briefly on the men's side bounce back the way they did from a tough one against para state.

That's what the media says.

A lot about your team's mental for today here in this this early going of the season.

>> Yeah.

Thank you.

It's something that we try to develop it something that we try to instill and it's nice to see that it that it pays off.

So now hopefully we're preparing for it to play fares again or to play some other cover teams in the in the glee.

Axel.

Hopefully it's it shows up as well.

>> How great was that trip down to Florida terms of bonding for this team.

Obviously a tennis told more of an individualistic sport I think was one of the least impact by covid.

But still all of these teams are impacted by that.

Now here for you and your second you're getting get this team back on the court getting back together, doing some of those things.

>> Have you seen this team grow and bond here over these last couple of weeks.

Yeah, it's great.

You know, spring trip is always something to look forward to mid part of the season kind of refresh everyone get into some good weather play, some outdoor tennis, which will hopefully help us prepare for the end of our season.

And then it's you know, there's a lot of time that you can spend we where we are in Pensacola.

We're saying in a couple of houses with the team.

So they get to spend all day with each other.

Go to the beach go shopping, whatever it is so and then when it's time to play tennis, you know, they're there and they're playing a lot of matches which just build the team camaraderie as well.

So it's a great experience for both teams.

>> I love that black women are now in the spring as well as everyone has their championship season together.

What's the next steps for the central talk to along the way.

What's what's the next couple of weeks B.

>> Yeah, we're just in in a conference play.

Now we have one region match.

We play Lewis later in the season.

But it seems like we're about halfway done with conference now.

So we're getting ready for the conference tournament in just about a month.

And then hopefully regionals in and a push for national after that.

>> Crazy to think how fast that I'm going to hopefully that means some warm weather is on the horizon.

Coaching get more outdoor time and that the deal with the indoor outdoor mix-up.

But in the meantime, great start to the conference play best.

Look these next few.

We'll talk to us.

And thank you, Jake.

Don't go away.

The Grand Valley State sports.

We'll be right back after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] GSU lacrosse started glee act play this week as they notched 2 wins in Allendale.

The team defeated Concordia Saint Paul on Friday and then followed up with a shutout win over upper Iowa on Sunday.

Joining us now to talk about her team's head coach mckenzie Lawler via zoom in mckenzie.

Great to have you back on the program here.

Your team is off to a great start.

And Lee act play during the six-game homestand here in the middle portion of your season and 2 more big wins this weekend.

>> Yeah, I think it was great to come out against gray Saint Paul and get such a strong when we know they are so athletic.

You know, they have a spread-out offense that a lot of players can step up on any given day.

And I think we handled that really, really well.

You know, dominated time of possession and was really proud of our offense.

You know, for handling their physicality.

>> Concordia Saint Paul, that he not think we've seen their confidence grow over these last few years.

And so they come to this one.

How much did a battle tested early portion of the season.

Help your team get ready for such a strong start.

Ugly act.

What?

>> I think that has helped us a time, you know, Saint Leo in Tampa play some of the hardest schedules in the country.

And so going against those types of teams.

You know, they show up every single game all year long.

And I think that really set the tone, but also gave us a lot of confidence that you know, coming away from that sort of trend going to now, you know, we know that we can play with any team in the country.

And so, you know, again, spring break was topped with injuries and travel sayings.

And I think just seen us get back into our flow.

Having practices at home.

You know, being in Allendale prepping for, you know, one or 2 points on a weekend.

You know, you're really seen us get back to playing our best across.

>> I think hot starts have been the calling card of your team this year on Friday start out with a 6, 1, lead after the 1st quarter against Concordia Saint Paul, what's been the key to the quick starts offensively.

>> That hasn't always been the case in my time here as a head coach and I was definitely something we knew we needed to work on the season.

But I give a lot of credit to that on the work with on our draw circle with nation.

Pam.

Oliver singer especially Libby Esposito is really starting to come on strong again in the circle.

But Maddie Molly have fantastic chemistry ad is lax eyecue on the draw is through the roof and she isn't always get the stats for that.

A lot of times, Molly.

Someone picking up in the circle that I think that, you know, has really just helped us get out to these early starts to fall before the ball is even ended up on our defensive zone.

And then obviously it's a lot easier for defense to play confident.

You know, it's already up 3, 0, versus that 0, 0, opening minute.

You know who's going to get the first goal.

>> Obviously, you know, Sophia back.

You also have to go back to jobs and the older players.

But it seems like really it's those sophomores writes that he just mentioned Molly Maddie throw in even the rock sisters will come on nicely here in their freshman year seeing some of these younger kids now grow in these roles must be really fun for you and your staff to watch.

>> It's really fun.

You know, as we recruit all these girls as individuals.

We knew they'd be able to make that impact our team.

But I really given a lot of credit to our older players who created the environment to allowed young players to successful.

You know, they've been excited for their success.

You know, still he's been a great mentor, especially on the offensive end.

And Leah Johnson has been a fantastic mentor in the defense of the and for some of our younger defenders like Carly Ross and Bellinger Regis who are, you know, starting getting a lot of time.

And so that culture really think has given the younger players that confidence that they can play hard mistakes will happen.

But, you know, keep learning game by game and we're continuing to see them improve.

>> You mentioned some athletic teams that you've gone against.

But you proved to be very athletic yourself and your whole Concordia to 6 failed clears in that game on Friday that a pariah was overnight and they're clear temps on Sunday.

So that transition game has been some new guys been really strong in this year as well.

>> Yeah, it took a while, I think to get that going into season, you know, even with the early wins against Saint Leo in Tampa.

I don't think that was like a huge staple to our our program yet and game by game has gotten just so much better.

And I think now it's become, you know, kind of a nonnegotiable.

Their attackers are really going to take the lead on that.

And you know, getting all those using cause turnovers before it even gets talked to the defensive end again, it's just really help us wear teams down with that time of possession.

>> You get the shut out when the lopsided 24 nothing in the first-ever meeting with upper Iowa on Sunday and was nice to see some of the other players get to step up really get some valuable playing time.

>> For sure.

You know those players are going hard and out of practice.

And so those are all skills that we've seen as a coaching staff and our other teammates.

But maybe not.

You know, fans are parents have been able to see that live.

So it was really great for them to step out.

And, you know, be able to show that.

And I also love the fact that with so many assisted goals on Sunday.

You know, definitely, you know, try to be selfless and moving the ball around to a lot of different players.

>> Well, both the offense and defense obviously clicking with 2 lopsided winds are starkly act like you've got a tough one coming up on Wednesday night, a team that you become very familiar with, especially since in the left ugly act.

It seems like Grande Valley and Davenport are the 2 kind of fighting in the glee actor in a championship year in and year out now.

So this is a big matchup here on Wednesday that what can we expect that the ags to across co. >> I think it will be a great offensive matchup.

You know, obviously I think we have a very high powered off.

That's that spread out a lot are around a lot of different players.

And so, you know, anyone can kind of a big day for us for Davenport.

You know, they have 2 players who are really, really doing well.

You know, one in a Glynn who had a fantastic career last year and then a transfer team in.

And so I think our our matchups are familiar, you know, a lot of that.

Once you play against those teams, you know, 3, 4, times a year, you know, they kind of what to expect from us.

And we know what to expect for them.

So I think it's really just executing the game plan for a full 60 Minutes and not, you know, having a court that we did for having a slow start.

I'm just really playing a complete game.

>> 2 offensive fire.

Power is going out on Wednesday.

It will be a lot of fun.

Coach.

Go get ready for that.

Thanks for your time as always.

Thank you.

The state's books.

We'll be right back after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] That's all the time we have this week on the Grand Valley State sports report tvs you baseball will start of glee act play this week as they play at home for the first time this season will take on Purdue Northwest on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Allendale, the DBS you baseball field dsu softball lines up for 3 double headers this week.

They'll take on Purdue Northwest at 03:00PM tomorrow as they kick off the act play.

But then matchup against terrorist state on Saturday.

April 2nd with a 01:00PM doubleheader in Allendale.

The close out the weekend on Sunday, April 3rd as they take on northwood first pitch for the pair of games is scheduled for 12:00PM TBS.

You across will host Davenport on Wednesday evening in Allendale.

>> The ball drops at 06:00PM then hit the road for a 05:00PM Friday matchup against northern Michigan up in Marquette dsu men's and women's tennis will head over to produce Northwest on Friday.

April 1st but then come back home on Saturday, April 2nd for a match against Davenport in Allendale for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program, visit DSD Lakers, dot com for more of this show it to our youtube channel at youtube.

Dot com slash WGVU 35.

Make sure you hit the subscribe button to get updated video highlights all year long for the entire crew here at WGVU.

I'm Jake Levy.

Have a great week.

Laker nation and is always a corrupt.

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