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

I'm your host Jake leading this week.

We'll take a look at TBS.

The women soccer as they come away with 2 late winners this weekend will also run down GSU football as they match up against their state over the weekend due to Bali ball competed at the Midwest.

Regional crossover will recap the tournament on the show.

He also had a double dose of features this week.

As we look at the GSU women's golf team as well as the big man.

A front for Grande Valley football rocket in Laker nation as the Grand Valley State sport report starts right now.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Number 6 Grand Valley State dropped a 3528 decision to number 3 Ferris state Saturday night before a lover Stadium crowd of over 17,000 you fall to 5, 1, overall will hit the road this next week Wrigley act at Northern Michigan.

There's now talk about a team's head coach.

Matt Mitchell as we look at this game, coach seem like the 1st half detailed some missed opportunities.

But the 2nd half but held a lot of fight by hurting.

>> Yeah.

1st half.

Obviously the offensive, you know, probably the biggest.

In fact, his red-zone turnovers.

We had the ball, you know, turnover inside the 3 yard line.

And what was the scoop and score for a touchdown by them set up 14 point swing right before happens that have been potentially 14 to 14.

It was 21 7.

And then we also throw pick in the red zone of the goal line which they scored on that drive to.

And so those are very costly turnovers, the Turner's in the 1st half.

Good thing is half time.

You know, kind of regroup to dot from the mob 2nd half.

I thought we were efficient running the ball the entire night and then came its place definitely picked up in the 2nd half read a great 2 minute drill.

This really positive things in the 2nd half.

You know, defensively we're fishing on first and second down in the 1st half.

We struggled on 3rd down to get off the field.

They covered a lot of 3rd Long's credit to their quarterback and their team.

But I thought that Joe Barton quarterback was fantastic.

I'm throwing the ball run.

And it was very difficult for to defend 3rd quarter.

We got some stops.

You know, we have to get some 3rd out stops.

Get the ball back to offense moved in.

That's why, you know, even though we were down 20 to 7.

We have electric that lead back and we're really close on side kick to getting another possession to potentially, you know, going for the game time score.

So, you know, the turnovers can happen.

We got to be better on 3rd down versus good football team.

But I am take with some silver linings of of the fighter.

Guess in the 2nd half and didn't flinch at all when the score was not towards our favor and kept battle in and going out to people.

Yeah.

You look at the running game, over 200 yards on the ground Cook.

That's a really good fair state front 7 deal to move the ball like you did on the ground, especially being down so big in the 2nd half and say a lot about your team offense.

Yeah.

I think it was a combination.

Our offensive line was very physical, very physical front titans did a good job with a Jake slager will be back here at some point this season is one of our most on the run blocking tight inside account without him.

And then I thought our backs ran really well.

Really physical really got the ball to the back into the safeties are safety has made some plays on us.

But to that paid, you know, I thought Cade, the first touchdown drop back to pass.

They kind of chased a much route.

He took off running for a touchdown to murdered some other ones, but also because converted some key 3rd and 4th downs with his arm.

We had a quick game going which was good and made some plays also got the bought the perimeter on some predator runs to this one just was up the middle arise and scores a rushing touchdown.

And I think maybe it's a pass it to foot pass.

You have a Cody tyranny, you know, had some of those its imprimatur runs to that accounted for some of the yardage.

Absolutely.

And let's let's talk about this crowd for seconds over 17,000 people on hand that place with rock is one of the best atmospheres I've ever been a part of his college football at a price to lead off that are very appreciative of everyone that came out special student section.

You know, I think there is potentially some false starts by first that directly related to our student section been backed up.

And so they came and they stay even when it was 20 at 7 in the 3rd quarter.

Very pretty sure that like it was packed, you know, both sidelines where you had your your fans, your County or fans than the ends where the students and it was a pretty cool atmosphere.

The pompoms.

I'm just a lot of energy last night for football tough to come up on the short end of things.

But I appreciate the people support us have ever seen.

4 consecutive false starts in a row that felt like that was all because of that students.

Actually.

There's no doubt.

Yeah.

I think the student section helped and they end up going to a silent count after that.

I think what's disappear for me is that we have the ball.

You know, the -1 ago, 9, 9, for a touchdown, you know.

And so that's not because of our students does a good job put in a position they covered a couple really key 3rd downs that like led to that.

So it's the 3rd long as that really killed us on defense and their offense or the job converting them.

>> We talked all year about not fracturing as a team.

You know, we but you've been tested a bit early in some games.

But things seem to right themselves in time to get this game was the first time that really that fracture could have happened late in the game and a big game that had playoff implications and her team didn't waver.

>> Not all.

You know, I think the locker room after the game.

I'm extremely disappointed because of the work you put in frustrated with some of the mistakes made in our team was coached up a very frustrated because there are areas we played well and we feel good about our performance of its first day, but there's some pretty key critic wires to body covered on the show and then but it's a group I think will bounce back, get back to work.

There's still a tremendous amount to play for specially start looking within our region.

Everybody is good.

Got tagged with the loss on Saturday.

The site's first day on the 15.

So there's really a chunk of about 6 schools that have one last one of those schools with the highest rate.

The schedule.

It's really important that we get back here against northern Michigan.

Get back to work.

And there's a lot of things left to play for.

>> Perfect paid to go and turn our attention now to northern Michigan coming up this week.

It's the second time you go across the bridge here.

Coming off an emotional game.

How do you get the team bounced back into play this out.

>> And it starts obviously with a great team medium practice on Tuesday and get the guys back out there and just play football as we do best of also know that, you know, has been a coach now for 12 years, a head coach that 18 to 21 males are pretty resilient.

He's got to get back in the right headspace play the sport that they love.

I also think that the dome is unique atmosphere.

It's a unique environment.

It's different venue.

I think that new venue IOC at an actual looking for to the road trip.

We have 50 players in a few coaches that are calm buses.

That might be a good thing for us given a lot of externalities that happened last week with the big Rapids Ferris.

Good to get back on the bus and headed to northern Michigan and get back to work.

Also about the Wildcat the expected on Saturday quarterback is leading them and obviously passing and rushing a very active quarterback trick Davis.

That's a make a lot of plays both on the ball and run a speech they've had or, you know, real to really tight games here.

The last 2 that they probably have leads in the 4th quarter that evaporated, you know, their losses of all been within one or 2 scores of play people type playing good on defense.

And again, they played really well at home.

And so that's the thing.

We have to be kind of guard force understand the home-field advantage.

They do have up their mark at the dome.

>> Yeah, they're coming off a really tough loss against Michigan Tech as well.

So 2 teams coming off rivalry losses facing off in Marquette should be a fun on this weekend.

Coach, thanks for time to look at stake.

It don't go away.

The Grand Valley.

State sport continues right after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] The GSU women's volleyball team went 3.

You know what the Midwest Regional crossover tournament in Hammond, Indiana over the weekend that he now sits at 12 7 overall this season as they return home this week for a pair of games to us now to talk all things Lakers volleyball as head coach Jason Johnson and coach.

We talked last couple of weeks about the importance of this crossover tournament we talked last week about the import of a bounce-back.

That's exactly what you got.

How is the weekend for you and him to a lot of fun.

Yeah.

Obviously our kids played well, going 3, no.

>> With the competition was put in front of us.

You know, dropped a single set.

So that was it was good to see.

You know, we made a couple lineup changes.

We had a couple adjustments that we had to do defensively as well.

But I thought our kids responded really well.

>> We talked last couple weeks about the importance of this for the entire conference for the top 4 teams in the glee act to go 11 1 this past weekend.

That is huge for this leak.

It is.

And we're talking about, you know, 50 some teens in our region.

Only 8 get into the regional tournament.

You're hoping your conference as well at this event every year so that the matches you win within your conference just help promote your case to be able to get into the NCAA tournament.

I know you lost that second game last week against Wayne state.

But ever since the struggles against Saginaw Valley offensive Lee, it seems like things have really shifted, especially this past week.

I mean, you hit over 3.60 in that first match this past weekend.

What's been the key to the turnaround of the office.

I think I said early on as we've interviewed multiple times.

Just the service.

The passing is a big part of that.

If we can keep our Saturn system.

If we can run the offense, we are and keep the tempo at the level we want it.

I think I've got a group of hitters that any one of the 5 can be successful in every night.

And, you know, I think those numbers show that this weekend where we were able to manage our side of the court very well about our offense was running pretty well for the most part, a few little tweaks and stuff as we go into next weekend, the beheading numbers, as I said in that first game are fantastic.

You just go looking through some of these and even Rachel Jack, we got in on the killing little bit.

I think we've seen her step up in a little bit more of attacking role going on to a bit more that fair to say is causing the season progressed.

I think so.

Again, it's just her understanding when and how to take those opportunities.

It's not a big center says she's not going to get on top of the ball as often as somebody else might.

But she knows that there's opportunities there to put points on the board.

And so we've been trying to work with her on when when to do that, how to do it.

You look at the sun, the numbers and yet the attacking numbers were great.

But another big thing that stood out to me was the errors have come way down when you're not beating yourself, obviously proven that this team can be really, really tough to beat.

Yeah.

Just in every aspect.

I think one of the areas we're still focused a little bit on his are serving about the errors were on timely.

It wasn't that we had a lot of them.

I just felt they were untimely errors.

But yeah, I think the the offensive efficiency was good.

I thought the unforced errors came down quite a bit.

Again.

That was the difference between this weekend and last.

>> Another big weekend from jayla West.

They feel like it's been every other weekend.

We've seen phenomenal number from her.

She almost 500 in the last game of the weekend this past weekend.

A look coming through again after a tough weekend.

Maybe you could say at second on Wednesday to really bounce back nicely for you.

>> She had a great weekend and she's one of them for the last couple weeks in practice is really push to try to get more playing time.

And you know, it's good to see her take the opportunity in his will she get.

I think she hit for 70 on the weekend over the 3 matches just her energy here Tuesday as but her work rate when she's on the court just made a difference this weekend.

>> For sure.

And you talk about service evening in passing.

Obviously we can see the offensive numbers.

We can't see that so well on that if you're looking at a box score.

So who really stood out to you on the defensive side of the ball free.

>> Well, we made an adjustment there live there this weekend with their freshman Julia Blaney and there were some nerves.

Definitely a little of that newness stepping into the environment.

But I thought overall played a great weekend.

I think are servicing passing is still an area where she's got to continue to get better at.

But I felt defensively.

She allowed us to move some pieces around which actually created a better defensive set up for us a little more consistently throughout the weekend.

So I thought you did a great job alley in Abbe Lowell alley Thompson Abby Graham have just been anchoring this team all year with their 6 rotation outside hitters.

They have to play defense.

They have to pass in serve receive they shoulder heavy load offensively as well.

And I thought they did a great job this weekend.

6 more regular season matches for them at home starting this weekend.

Closer look for to get you back in the GSU Fieldhouse arena this weekend.

Thanks as always.

We talk.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

We're back with more from the Grand Valley State sports report on wdvm right after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] The GSU women's golf team has student athletes coming from across the world to make Grand Valley home and they're posting the results weekly that shows their choice was a great one.

Tom Cleary has the story.

>> This year's women's golf team at Grand Valley won't overwhelm you with its roster size and there are only 7 players on the team.

But it's a squad from 5 different countries.

It's starting to coalesce as the athletes from abroad get more comfortable with life here in Michigan.

>> They've had some adjustments.

But you know, the best thing about it is all the international players us appreciate the opportunity to be able to study and play golf at the same time, something that they don't do back home.

>> The golfers on this year's Lakers squad have games as diverse as their backgrounds.

Spain's Julio Sanchez is a calculating technician.

Well, Canadian Megan Iran utilizes strength.

She developed playing hockey.

>> This is not that he's definitely a plus for me that's an advantage that I have.

And short game has been much improved over the summer.

It has helped so much.

I would say I'm really consistent know that he is here Biles go straight so that they have the advantage for mean and the fire is also good.

>> And while this year's players all have different gifts.

One thing they have in common is the joy they derive from competing as a squad with teammates from different continents.

It's awesome.

>> I absolutely love, especially the argentine's.

And then who is from Spain because I'm trying to get my minor in Spanish.

They've been super helpful and whether it's like homework or just like talking in Spanish giving more comfortable with it.

It's been super fun because that's an experience I would never get if they were my teammates.

It's way more fun because that's a nun.

Even if you have the other day, you know that your teammates out there and running and you it motivates you so much to like, keep going, keep pushing on Friday letter.

It's fun.

Different cultures, different people, different backgrounds.

So makes it diverse and interesting.

We learn more about everything.

>> If you're not a player that likes to have a dream.

When you what you need to take the time to actually win.

Is your breath do it.

>> Well, golf has been a sport that's experienced fewer shutdowns during the pandemic.

Athletes on this team are getting react mated to a team structure and the pace of college competition.

Something it did suffer when most return home overseas last spring.

>> I've really got 5 freshman on the team this year.

Despite this, you know, 4 of them have been here last year.

But none of them of experience.

A normal college golf schedule which is competing in the fall and competing in the sprint.

Things are just starting to feel a little bit, a little bit more normal now frost.

>> And will travel to South America and Europe can be tedious for some on this team.

There's one long trip they won't mind making when they board a plane later this month to be the first ever Grand Valley squad to play event in Hawaii.

The Grand Valley State sports report.

I'm Tom Cleary.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> GSU women soccer went to an over the weekend, beating sdsu on the road Friday before returning home for 8.43 thriller against northern Michigan on Sunday.

Chance now to talk about the team's head coach Jim colony coach.

A couple of games were right down to the end of regulation.

But you pull them out, get too tough wins against league opponents this weekend.

>> Yeah.

You know, as the season goes on, the conference only get stronger.

Opponents.

Know what you're doing, you know them.

And so, you know, we they said we had 2 thrillers this weekend.

Happy to come with the winds.

>> Too late equalizer by the other teams for your team to pull out those bounce back goals.

Late was that say about the resilience of this team.

>> Yeah.

Like the mentality of the team.

I think we're doing a really nice job of understanding supporting each other.

So when you get into a situation like that and take a deep breath, collectively regroup.

And thankfully, we were able to put on the back of the net.

>> You know, when you look on paper, maybe that northwood Ferris state weekend had the best combined records.

But these are 2 teams in Saginaw Valley in northern Michigan are very aggressive, very physical.

There's probably a tough test for your team physically this weekend wasn't.

>> Yeah.

When you go through Hughley act play.

You've got several different tactics that the coaches are imploring and obviously sagging on northern had good plants this week and they play good talker.

And so when they squeeze out passing lanes and put tight pressure on your first touch.

It's hard to get that rhythm.

You want to move the ball and play.

So some nights you can't look at the record.

You got a look at the tactics in the matchups we go after and that sport as they play the game and like they were tied to come away with 2 wins and be able to kind of crack the code, so to speak, with both those difficult times this weekend.

>> Credit.

The Lotus was massive for you this weekend.

4 goals and an associate the game winner last night as part of a hat trick and also had the assist on the game winner on Friday night.

What is put her in the position to be so successful.

The offensive end this point.

>> Yeah.

I think, Greta, along with most of the team are finding their way with what we're asking of them grant is doing a great job when she has on the ball facilitating for others.

And then also letting her teammates facilitate for her to put her in good positions.

And I think they're really starting to come into their own understand what each other's gifts aren't in play through each other's strengths put themselves and in great positions and and great obviously scored and was a part of many of our goals this weekend, so kudos to her but also kudos to her teammates for putting things together and the whole unit really starting to come together.

One thing of beauty.

>> Yeah, I'd be remiss if we didn't at least mention Katie Barron on Sunday for the play that yes, she had 2 really good assist one on the ground one through the air that set that up.

Great but set the table for right.

>> And Katie is another great example of were asking her to do a little bit more than what she's great at.

And so I think you really look at her as an example of knowing what she does.

And as a major impact for our team and then asking her to stretch your limits a little bit more in a few other ways is really proving to be a benefit for her and the team.

>> It was interesting playing northern for the second time as a conference opponent.

Now in the past ugly because had you play the same team twice.

They were both conference games.

This is really the first time he played a team at second time as a conference game that you feel a difference and you feel like there's anything different playing in the second time around.

>> Yeah.

I think the big thing is one of the tactical adjustments, you know, in and in the game like yesterday, it was a completely different formation at a northern.

So, you know, I think in and we played a completely different formations.

Well, from the first time.

So it's really that understanding of we know what it takes to win the glee AK, you know, the wins and losses to to win a championship.

But at the same time, you also have to play one game at a time and understand the nuances and alterations that can affect the scoreboard.

But all to and standings but really take care of our business.

One passing the time one plate at a time when defensive angle the time.

>> Yeah, it looks like they're playing almost a 3, 6, 1, against you in that game yesterday they had.

Caroline Helen was the ugly act offensive player of the year in the spring at center back.

But what about that formation kind of make things tricky early on for you guys.

How to adjust to it.

>> Yeah, they obviously put a lot of numbers in the middle and they take a very talented player and move her all over the field and you don't really know what to fully expect.

You know, if she's on the front foot as an attacker that's going to give one.

Look, if she's on the backline anchoring that is going to give a different line a different look.

So I think them just having a lot of numbers in the middle allows different spaces on the field that that open up.

We just have to wait to do a good job of possessing in tight spaces to get to the areas that we did have a little bit more time in the area to work with.

>> Not only with Sunday, a thrilling game.

But it's also awesome.

Get all those alumni back to celebrate the 25th season of GSU soccer.

You have everybody back, including people from the very first class.

Tell us about it was like to have them back.

And then also what they're kind of message to the team was after the game.

>> Having the along that back was tremendous really, really tremendous in the chest anytime you can get back the women that have come before the current team.

You understand that it's bigger than you.

You understand that it's bigger than any one player bigger than any one coach and the messages from the women, like you said from the very first team all the way through.

Some players are still finishing up there degrees now more simple enjoy every moment that you have in it.

It is going to be crazy.

It's going to go by fast lean on your teammates.

Those teammates really help you get through good times and tough times and there are lessons that you're going to learn as intercollegiate athletic athlete in particular GSU women soccer player with the level of commitment that it takes that is going to transcend and prepare you for the work force.

We heard that over and over last night from the lungs that we will be more ready than some out there just because of the excellent standards that we live by day by day.

>> It had to be so cool for some of those players and alumni to come back and see not only the team being the number one team in the country undefeated on the season but also seeing the video board the press box and the way this thing has grown as a whole.

That's really cool for them as well.

So a great weekend overall coach.

Congratulations on 2 more wins and thanks as always for your time.

Thank you.

>> We're back with more on the ground out states for support.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] The GSU football team is nationally ranked this season due in no small part to the big men up front.

Tom Cleary has the story.

Agree to that.

>> The object of attention in lumber stadium.

Each fall is the football teams and players spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to throw it.

Catch it and run with it when they have it and get it back where they don't.

[MUSIC] Many of the biggest and strongest players do not know where the wind or the foundation of all great.

>> There's a parallel between training to be a man be a great husband.

Be a great dad.

A great businessman engineer, whatever you choose to be in the office line because the glory part of it isn't there.

But the relish onion, the success of somebody else.

That's what we wake up in the morning to do absolutely.

>> Most are spent more than a decade at Wayne state in Detroit before coming to Hallandale and he's immediately taken a shine to his first group of players as they head out to him that I love.

>> And coming from a school like Wayne say, always had a great offensive wind.

So he understood what it took to be a great offensive lineman and we have the tools to do it to everyone in when coaches are came and watched the tape in what we're good at.

Where about he.

We attacked that over this fall and spring.

>> And while players on the offensive line trying to protect and help their teammates who handle the ball defensive lineman specialize in disruption in having, which is just the way they and their coach like it.

>> We have to be in a mindset where as I don't care who that guy is across from me right to make sure that I'm bringing it consistently without physicality with that disrupting this that you're talking about.

And I think a lot of guys have got within our group and that's something that's been able to translate to success that we've been able to have.

>> So far this season.

Yeah.

Been given to live the game of what, you know, a lot of emotions, lot of intensity of the have and just having a young guy with a lot of energy, a lot of a motivation.

I think it's great.

It really gets us to play hard.

>> Well, Grande Valley is at numerous great mind that both sides of the ball past in the eyes of many know Laker team has had the kind of depth this one possesses season takes its toll on big guys.

A light on every plane, which is why people like bids in Worcester don't just focus on their start.

>> The biggest thing that I've been pleased about is just the selflessness that they have for each other.

Is that why you don't always get the more you don't always get the statistics, but you do all the dirty work and just the love that these guys have for one another and it's been fun to watch for the way they come to work every day the way they're just fun.

Just to learn.

What's the tape?

Get better every single day.

It's been incredible, incredible time.

>> Well, Grande Valley look good this year.

Its first game in almost 2 years against Colorado state Pueblo.

The Lakers truly became a force in dominating road wins at Michigan, Tech and second all Valley.

And while the rest of us spend our Saturday is fixated on the pigskin at Mitchell's players in the trenches, mostly concerned themselves with winning the approval of Jalen vips and Scott started the Grand Valley State sports report.

I topped.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> That's all the time we have this week on the Grand Valley State sports report the GSU football team will head to the U P once again for a game against northern Michigan on Saturday.

Kickoff is scheduled for 01:00PM CBS.

The women soccer will stay home to start the weekend as they take on Michigan Tech at 04:00PM on Friday.

But that make their way across town for a match against Davenport on Sunday kickoff for that game is scheduled for 11:00AM give us your volleyball returned home from a long few weeks on the road as they square off at Lake Superior state on Friday at 07:00PM after a day of rest will be back at it against North.

What for a 02:00PM matchup in Allendale at the GSU Fieldhouse arena for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program does atvs the Lakers dot com to see more of this show it to our youtube channel.

>> At youtube.

Dot com slash WD 35 makes you hit the subscribe button.

Get updated video highlights all year long for the entire crew here at WGVU.

I'm Jake.

We have a great week like a nation.

And as always, accurate.

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