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

I'm your host Jake Levy that will be hitting all the action across TV su athletics as we kick off the 2122 season.

We've got football volleyball women's soccer men's golf and a feature on the football team.

You won't want to miss rocket in Laker nation as the Grand Valley State sport report starts right now.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] Number 14 Grand Valley State opened the 2021 football season with a 34 to 14 victory over number 16 Colorado state playbook in front of a huge crowd at Wembley stadium.

Joining us now to talk about the Lakers for the first time since 2019 as head coach Matt Mitchell coach.

Great to have you back in city.

A great to have football back.

Easy question to get things started.

665 days.

>> How to get back out.

So great.

You know, put a lot of time and effort into that.

And we'll get to that for Saturday.

And a little bump in the road was be doing 1, 7, days earlier, but it is awesome.

I thought, really appreciate our student section, especially okay.

Our loud proud and state into the 2nd half, which is awesome.

Good home atmosphere.

9.11.

There's a lot of things going on was glad we performed well in the field kind of cap off the night.

Yeah.

Dream start 21 nothing to start the game to get a 10 play touchdown drive to start the game and you had to bet that.

Exactly.

I drew it up right 100%.

You know who we I really want to try to win the toss to take the win in the 1st quarter to get off to a fast start.

So when we lost the toss, they deferred.

We took the ball a little concerned, you know, but we started with lights and 75 yards.

Couple key plays on the drive with a 3rd down.

They played man coverage.

K Pietersen took off a scramble for exposed to play for a run for first down that made this decision.

Stay aggressive.

You know, I really have a lot of confidence in our football team with for it on 4th and one we popped a 16 yard touchdown run with K Pietersen that, you know, gave us the score.

So really good start to the game.

Also, you know, we finished the half really well to want to give our offense credit that 17 play drive that resulted in the, you know, keep Peterson Juwan Johnson touchdown right before the half.

And that was good to kind of extend the lead 28 to 7 after we had a little bit of a hiccup in that 2nd quarter.

Yeah.

We're going to talk about Kate and that offense because they were outstanding as well.

But that defense was unbelievable coach to 7 points against them for not playing football in almost 2 years had the Super proud of the way that defense plenty of really good play ball to correct.

You know, and I think, you know, when you head into the matchup that caused a problem.

They've been, you know, top 5 the nation last 5, 6, years and guards to defense that made the playoffs last 5, 6, years really leaned on their defense throughout the course of times we knew this is probably going a little bit of a defensive battle, especially, you know, the scores of commerce their opening win.

You know, when they play really strong defense that game too.

So, you know, walked into that meeting.

Prepping for public tiller defense, you know, got to step up.

This is probably one of those games we can't afford to give up 2128 we may be losing called.

I thought those guys did a great job stopping the run.

I think limit about 52 yards rushing that we really strong in the front and then had a great coverage.

The decided to take some shots in the back in a really, you know, besides what little driver.

They had a couple passes and then we had, you know, some penalties lead to a touchdown, the red zone.

If you take away just 2 or 3 plays.

It's about as dominant as defense performances.

We've had in a while and coach.

We talk leading up to this game about how experienced quite was offensive line.

So to see the what your defensive line, particularly those interior guys played.

That's unbelievable.

Yeah.

Are tiered defensive line was dominant all night run and pass, you know, Dennis Johnson, our cap to lead the crew.

Really impressive said set to horse a Huntsville native that's been really practice.

Well, that showed up on Saturday than 8 were transferred from Minnesota Allendale native and even a redshirt freshman Jack Gilcrest, who I think is going to really bright future, got his first action there.

So combine that with some good and play.

I was really impressed with Xavier Washington.

Our transfer from Northwestern rush.

The passer created a turnover.

Jake lob all-conference performer Christmas Carol Leavell Colton high bill.

We have depth as or defensive lineman.

Jake, I think that gets a lot of to rotate kept those guys fresh.

We played strong in the 3rd 43rd quarter and then a guy that that next line we've talked about all offseason need to have a big year for you.

8 wants in the captain of that defense in the middle of and he starts stepped up 9 total tackles for you.

He was great.

You know, I think you did a really good job of the run game.

Him along with all of our really guys on defense.

We didn't miss a lot of tackles when you're watching from the stands were really good.

Tackling team play physical Abe led the way.

He's a middle linebacker.

We kind of design things that you can run sideline to sideline and pursue inside out.

He was there did a great job and then another guy.

It's been our program but has really grown a lot.

As David Wesley.

I thought he had a really good night.

He has a tough job.

He kind of spells both Abe and Brenda Brown at the Mike in the will.

So he's crossed rain.

That's really difficult.

Mentally give them a lot of credit.

He played really well at both positions to spell both of those guys if I remember correctly, I think he recovered the fumble that Xavier today for what he did on that play as well.

On the offensive side, K Pietersen coach.

We saw through all 4 quarters.

The diversity of what he can do from extending plays to running on designed runs to throwing the ball hard when he needed to be a little bit of everything he did.

You know, I thought I think he showed a command.

You know, when you look back, 2019, he was kind of pressed into action as a redshirt freshman.

We had some injuries and he was, you know, played OK, but you could tell he was a freshman.

I thought you saw kid that has spent 2 years kind of prepare for this moment.

He was very composed to really do a lot of really nice things.

As you said, he's really comfortable when the initial play kind of a breakdown for that next play.

And so he shook awesome tacklers a month to pass protections that we kind of work the best on escapes ran through.

There's one time he flushed out through a long ball down to Jacob Miller who got to be deep that a P i n that particular play that extended a drive.

A lot of score.

So he does a good job is tough to defend that way and the like.

As you mentioned, we do have some designed quarterback runs.

Our first score was a designed quarterback run.

We mix those in 2, we have to be careful is a very valuable commodity.

We don't want to do that a ton.

But you know, at the same time we may need to have that happen to be explosives.

We need offensively and varied as well.

8 different receivers caught a pass code.

Yeah.

And that was, you know, by design to I think we talked about is going to be a group effort against a quality defense and try to get guys involved.

I was really impressed.

A couple backs of the backfield.

Jack prevention picked up a nice explosive pass on the sideline.

Bryson was gets us one dollar allows buck to County.

And so, you know, we've talked about and no UFA its social media.

We have 4 tailbacks.

And so we attempted to try to get those guys.

I think all for it such as of one form or another, whether it was a carry in or out of the backfield a pass.

I think that that again, diversity at running back with their different talents and skills will make us tougher to defend it.

As you mentioned, wide receivers tight ends.

We have upgraded our receiving corps.

Jawan Johnson had had a night with 2 touchdowns on the rise and got some touches.

Jacob Illinois had one catch, but you'll see a lot of him throughout the course season that we involved our titans to Jake slager was involved in the passing game on a critical 3rd down in the opening drive to cuts of Colorado for the middle.

So the more people get the ball to.

I think that for our to defend and we have I think we think we have that out.

The diversity able do that.

A theme on both side of the ball complete team when coach congratulations getting back on the field and graduate and a wind to get started.

Thank you so much for your time to see that week.

Thanks a lot.

Jack.

Don't go away.

The Grand Valley State support for turns right after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Grand Valley State's men's golf team claimed the team title at the runs, an invitation on Monday.

September 6th in Allendale, Michigan.

They follow that up with an impressive performance with a 3rd place finish at the water's invite this past weekend.

Tonight.

Now to talk about his team's head coach Gary bass on coach 2 great performances to start the fall season.

First of all, it's nice to have a fall season back and have to be pretty happy with performances so far.

>> Yeah.

We got up to a great start.

I would say that first tournament, the aaronson was probably the best.

We've played one through 5 in the last couple years.

As you know, we've been struggling with death.

We've always at some horses up front.

But to get some really good play out of our 4, 5, was very encouraging.

And we're looking forward to the rest of the season.

>> You know, obviously the championship is in the spring.

But we talk all the time about how important is to set the tone here in the fall.

If you could explain to our viewers why these fall meter so important.

>> The fall is really important because you don't want to get yourself way behind right.

So top 10 teams in the region is what's going to make postseason.

So if you find yourself on that bubble or even outside of that bubble.

And it's really tough.

And there's a lot of pressure to claw your way back in.

You don't really have a lot of opportunities to do that.

So the fall really is the way to set the tone and secure your regional berth.

>> You had an incredible recruiting Class A few years ago and through covid in some other things are still fresh and going into this year.

But it starts with Charlie delong who won that parents an invitation a couple of weeks ago.

He's going to be a tone setter for your team these last couple of years.

>> Charlie's star plain and simple.

You know what I would say that current drew kobler certainly becoming that as well.

That class is phenomenal are certainly some great play out of Alex Jordan as well.

And then we've got a rock solid senior air non that's always been in the lineup.

We feel really confident final.

But you're absolutely right.

I mean, it's led by Charlie the line.

He starting to come out as more of a leader on and off the golf course.

He start to be more comfortable in that leadership role, which I think is going to be great for us as well.

>> In golf, which is such an individual slashed team sport.

What defines a good leader.

>> Well, they got to be leading by example first, right.

So there's no doubt this is truly a sport where you get out of it what you put into it.

And so if your best player, is it putting in the work and then working his b### off each and every week, then everybody else is going to look to that say, well, if the best players not doing it.

Why do I need to do.

And so that's exactly where it starts.

I mean, and Charlie certainly does that, you know, he's in the gym every morning working out and then he's there late at night as well practice.

And so there's really no quit in him whatsoever.

>> You mentioned Eric known Iraq.

Start solid senior, you know, he he has grown so much over the last few years.

It's got to be really impressive for you to see a guy maybe a little shaky in their freshman year.

Unlike Charley but come along each and every year.

What are you seeing the growth of Eric.

>> Well, as maturation.

Eric was a really talented player young in his career.

Maybe a little immature.

It took him a couple years to kind of get things in line.

But I was just on one of my buddies the other day.

I I've never had a player makes such a huge change from their freshman year to now he's he's a leader with Charlie.

You know, he's kind of the older leader.

Eric isn't such a phenomenal job.

I couldn't be more proud of him.

You know, he's lost a bunch of weight is taking his body more seriously, which is a bigger part of the sport and people probably give it credit for.

And at the same time as practice habits a change in leadership at its a change.

So we're immensely proud of her.

>> What do you do from the fall season.

What is your plan as you go from the fall than have that break.

Obviously we're in Michigan's he can really play trudell throughout the winter and early spring.

How does that kind of fluctuate when you get ready to go back into the championship season in the spring.

>> While the winner is where we always say we do our best work.

Right.

So we take the fall data and say what we need to improve on and that's what we spend all when are doing now.

We face challenges here.

Obviously snow is not conducive for golf so that becomes a pretty big issue.

But we've done a pretty good job navigating around that.

I think and we try to use that to our advantage.

The nice part is when you're not playing golf, you're not going to be as concerned about the state of your game.

So you'll be willing to make more change and we've always taken that philosophy in in the past.

You know, if you look through our record, we generally been a better team in the spring that we have in the fall.

So we're sticking to that same plan.

>> Well, the planets work so far was 18 straight trips to the original termine for men's golf.

So it's been a really incredible run.

Congratulations.

Great start to the season is what we look for talking in the future that we should thank shape.

We'll be right back.

In the Grand Valley State sports report.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] It's a new season for GSU women, soccer and the team is firing on all cylinders as they started the season for Dell.

They put up a dominant performance this past Sunday against number 7 central Missouri in.

Joining us now for the first time ever its first year head coach Jim Conlan coach.

Great to have you here on the program.

Congrats on a great start out the first couple of weeks been for you.

>> Thank you.

Had me the first policeman.

Tremendous couldn't be more pleased with the efforts that the women are putting in and really just the intensity and attitude that is surrounded not only preseason but first couple games.

>> To take us through training camp a little bit.

Obviously your brand new coach.

Here's what was that getting to know.

You process like.

>> Yeah, trying to catch always an integral part of the season when you're trying to get to know a new team.

And then when you get a coach hired as late as I did in the summer.

I think we just spent a lot of time trying to understand what each other's gifts were and they were trying to figure out how I coach there.

They were trying to prove what they can do technically and tactically.

And then we really had a quality 2 weeks understanding each other to a lead us into that home opener.

>> Yeah.

A lot of test right off the bat to nationally ranked opponents in the 4 games he played so far to go into lindenwood, get a 4.

Nothing victory over.

That's a really good job.

BC team that is trying to be friendly to the nothing nationally ranked they're coming off a win against Paris doesn't offer a great weekend to get the season started.

>> Yes, it was a great weekend.

I think when you get to start at home.

It brings a level of comfort as well.

I think that was nice in this transition.

And then we're just trying to go one game at a time when weekend at a time and I thought the women came out and put together quality showing against lindenwood, as you said, a very good opponent and then you got to get folks and to in the heat of the summer time turnaround.

Then they had a quality game there from their Friday actually coming to us.

And you know, we're able to get another wind again, just really pleased with their effort and their buy into what we're trying to do.

>> A couple of shutout wins Cape around earns defensive player of the week that the player that came from kind of a role player.

Her last couple of years.

The jumping into that starting spot at center back orange really stepped up big time early in the season.

>> Yeah.

I think when you get a coaching change, there's usually 2 thoughts.

You've got the players that we're comfortable with the previous coaching kind of knew their role and then it's a fresh start for the other ones.

And I think we've been able to do a nice blend of making sure that everyone gets a look that they deserve.

And if you look at the, you know, the box score historically.

And then this year I think we've got some players showing their true colors.

And I think you've got players that have been proven player.

So I think we've got a great blend right now.

>> One of those proven players Kennedy beard and she scored a goal in all 4 games.

Obviously have are at that center forward up top position.

But she's really come through for you.

Every match.

>> Yeah.

Kennedy's been bouncing around in a couple different positions were really looking at her too.

Find a way to make sure that our offense is performing in a variety of ways and she's getting a lot put on her plate and she keeps responding to everything we're asking of her.

So we've been very pleased.

>> Building it up as a top 10 matchup because it was just yesterday when he took on central Missouri.

That is a big test early in the season and obviously a 3 nothing win.

I assume your girls pacifying coach.

>> Yeah, I think obviously we're I think we're just trying to get 2 wins on the road.

I don't know if we even over hyped the top 10 matchup, but any time you go on the road for the first time.

How is it in the hotel.

How is the flight?

How is the camaraderie?

You know, the balance of academics sleep habits.

The eating habits.

So to get that result.

We did on top of the first transitional road trip again really pleased with them.

I thought they were locked in and then the 3 win yesterday late obviously Taylor read with a great goal just and effort.

2 to finish the run and to get us up.

One, nothing going into halftime and then.

>> To put away too late when it was great for us and for Taylor Reid who grew up 30 minutes from the central Missouri campus to score a goal in front of all her friends and family had to be such a cool moment.

>> Yeah, she had a great weekend.

She even having a whole great pre season but to pay.

You can put that story book and get to go home, haven't to assist and a goal on the weekend.

What was special and a birthday weekend for her at all.

With that with having both of our Missouri girl having birthday weekend.

Yeah.

Kind of kismet, if you will, the way everything kind of came together.

They're okay now you turn your attention to the upper Peninsula.

Glee Ackley begins this week.

It's a whole new chapter.

What's the conversation?

The team going into the upper Peninsula this week.

But that hitting that conversation right now is rest got very before we get back to work.

But I think the message this week is going to be 0, 0, We haven't started Lee act play everyone still an equal footing.

We need to start Billy act as well as we did the regular season, we were able to accomplish what we wanted to early in the season conference.

But now we are still 0, 0, in conference play.

We need take this one game at a time when we can time starting up in the U P. >> Well coach off to a great start for know.

Congratulations on that.

I know you had a late night last night getting back in Missouri's appreciate you're waking up early with us here.

They get some rest.

We'll talk to you next weekend looking UPI this week.

You've got it.

Thank you.

Be right back with more of the Grand Valley State sport report right after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] The Lakers volleyball team sits at 4, 4, to start their season competing in 2 tournaments in the past 2 weeks.

The Lakers are coming off 3 straight road wins at the capital classic now is not an unfamiliar face around GSU and our show.

But joining us now for the first time as head coach of the volleyball program is Jason Johnson coach.

Thanks for being here.

Congratulations on taking over this program.

Well deserved for you how these first couple of weeks.

But.

>> Busy busy.

It's been a quick turnaround, obviously with coach Taylor retiring in July.

A man trying to get everything in place and ready to go for the beginning of the season.

But it's been a lot of fun.

I mean, obviously been here long enough know the ins and outs of Grand Valley know the ins and outs of all the program.

So that learning curve has has in that steep.

But I think it's taking over a program and realizing that every decision you make is the one that matters the most now and you have to take that ownership as well.

>> Yeah.

Obviously coming from associate head coach to head coach.

The familiarity was there between you and the players.

But still a different dynamic.

What was the change like that.

How you guys overcome that.

>> Well, I think the biggest things even teaching our kids that it was.

It's a different relationship between us now.

You know, not not because it's change who I am or how I go about things.

But when you now make those decisions, whether it's playing time or lineup changes or who's going to be where on the floor now it's not somebody else's above you making that choice that you and so those conversations in meetings of those conversations on the quarter just a little bit different.

And you know, we tried to create the same environment as far as an openness to our program open door policy for players always to be available to walk in.

But I think that they're still navigating through staff changes as my assistant.

I came on board and then me taking over the decisions that I have to go through and make and create as we move forward through the season.

>> To really busy weekends to get the season started.

You start going to Colorado with some really good competition out there.

You guys go one in 3 to play a ton of 5 set matches.

What did you learn from your team in that opening weekend.

They've got a lot of grit.

>> I mean, at the end of the day, they they never gave.

And I think the most impressive part of the whole weekend was winning against Mesa in our last match.

I think we have played 13 of a possible 15 set at that point.

I think at one point I said we had gone of our 6 set losses in the first day.

5 of them were 2 point loss.

So there was a lot of resiliency that went into the competition.

There was a lot of grit that went into it.

Obviously trying to figure out a way to reverse that and get those one or 2 point turnaround.

But the fact that they came out with the energy they did with another five-set loss in the morning against minds and be able to rebound in the afternoon and play against a very talented Mesa team but put things together a little bit more.

So I think that was the highlight of the weekend for me.

But I think even the matches we played against all those teams.

They were good matches.

It was just a matter of DEM learning each other.

We have some kids, a new positions and then just learning how to compete at a high level.

Then you turn around, go to Illinois to get started with a really, really good Northwest Missouri state.

He go to 5 sets with them.

You had a lead in that 5th set.

Of course it doesn't go your way.

But to respond and get 3 consecutive wins after that.

Was that say about your team again that that grit and resiliency.

You know, I think they stayed focused on the things we needed to do.

They understood the you know, the one point at a time mentality, the grinding through match and then not allowing those sets to slip away.

I think I made a reference in our match against Illinois Springfield that we had finally gotten off to a good start in the first set in that match.

And it's the first time all year that I think we lead at the first 5 points.

And it seems like a really small thing.

But every set so far this year.

We've got behind and we had to fight our way back.

Now we have the ability to fight our way back.

But the energy it expels creates a little more of a fatigue at the end of the site as well.

And so that opportunity to get yourself into a good space to start off stronger and then get that lead allows you to then get into a rhythm and flow a little bit more sets.

Go on.

>> Sarah white, you moved her from the outside to a middle blocker.

She seems to have really responded to a to your team in both defense and offense.

So what's been the big turn around for her.

>> I think just being comfortable.

You know, again, Sarah has been in the program for 2 years.

But it's the first opportunity she's had to really lock down a starting position in the middle and it's one of the more taxing positions on the volatile floor.

You know, having to play sideline to sideline as a blocker having to transition and we've opened our offense up to the point where she has to work to provide opportunities for herself not just in one position as as an outsider.

Right side might.

But along the whole net as we try to make her a dynamic and moving.

So I think just the familiarity, the opportunity to play as many such as she has.

She starting to learn a little bit more what it takes to be successful.

But I think she's also learning what she can do and playing around with that a little bit as well.

>> Well, coach will get a seat on your home floor until October.

Looking forward to that.

But in the meantime, looking for talking to each and every week.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Congratulations on a fantastic start to the season.

Thanks shaker.

Really appreciate it was fun to be on today.

Don't touch that remote.

We'll have more Grand Valley State sport report right after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] Playing for the first time since 2019 GSU football looks to make a run this season.

Tom clearing highlights the new-look Lakers.

>> It's been more than 21 months since football has been played at Liberty stadium and even coming into this week.

The enthusiasm for a new season.

It's been tempered by the knowledge that nothing is a sure thing during the World Health crisis still, Matt Mitchell and his team.

I have always work toward the goal of playing in 2021 despite all that has happened during the time of COVID-19.

>> You know, the 2021 academic year when there was no competition, you know, was obviously a really new experience and probably the cart more leadership than any other year.

>> ASU still trying to develop a team pushing to try to get ready to play in the 2021 season to compete for a championship.

>> Is current roster features dozens of players who have never stepped onto the field in a game until the Laker roster getting suffer, catastrophic personnel losses.

Well, it can be read a face only teammates in the practice field since November 2019 the goal has always been to seek improvement for the moment when games resume.

>> Playing each other for a whole year.

You learn a lot about yourself because the offense and defense, you know what you're going to run.

You know what you're going to do.

Both sides are still executing both getting better at a higher level.

So every time you improve, you know that you're always stepping up another level and that's kind of how I feel about it.

Coach, which is brought to our attention to how you deal with it versus how you deal with everything.

>> So pretty much every day.

We just have the mindset of we're going to get better to say whether the player we don't place a one percent better each day.

>> Perhaps the 2 most notable losses of players with returning eligibility this year.

We're star linebacker Tyler brand field and starting quarterback Cole could top gun, both of whom opted to pursue personal and business plans to top his departure, though created opportunities for 2 players who could run the team for the next 3 seasons seasons.

Backup K Pietersen and caelynn to Khan who is also a viable option.

Grande Valley's retooled offense.

>> And we didn't didn't walk kole to lead or coal decide to leave.

I think it was healthy for those 2 because they like, okay, it's time to go.

And I think that that hunger they had to be the starter, the competition between the 2, allowed them to grow and it's a healthy competition that really good friends.

>> Kay Peterson played well in several relief appearances in 2019 when Colton top was hurt, which is how Grande Valley knows quarterback depth in 2021 is essential and depth on the line of both offense and defense may make things easier for the Lakers, Nucor a field generals in the first month of the season before the start of conference play for the Grand Valley State sports report.

I'm Tom Cleary.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> That's all the time we have this week on the Grand Valley.

State sports report did issue football the at home this week as they take on Wisconsin La Crosse in Allendale on Saturday.

It's a blackout for the Lakers to be sure to wear black to the game.

Did issue women soccer will hit the road to the upper Peninsula this week.

Kicking off glee act play by taking on northern Michigan this Friday.

But by Michigan Tech on Sunday.

>> Does your valuable also heads North as they play opposite women soccer taking on Michigan Tech this Friday by a match against northern Michigan on Sunday edition men's golf will head to Finland for the docks Bragg invite September 20th and 21st.

But the women's team will play at U Indy today and tomorrow.

You cross country will compete in the Spartan invite on Friday.

September 17th in East Lansing for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program.

Visit CBS Lakers, dot com to see more of this show head to our youtube channel at youtube.

Dot com slash WGVU 35 makes it the subscribe button to get updated video highlights all year long for the entire crew here at WGVU.

I'm Jake.

We have a great week Laker nation.

And as always, accurate.

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