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

I'm your host Jake Levy.

GSU cross country claimed ugly act titles on both the men's and women's side.

We'll get into the race is later in the episode.

Also, take a look at the lake or volleyball team as they win 2 in Allendale.

We'll also dive into the Laker football teams road win against northern Michigan are feature this week highlights Rachel.

Jack, why in the Laker volleyball team this season.

Lock in Laker nation is the Grand Valley State sport report starts right now.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> The Grand Valley State, women's and men's cross country teams dominated ugly act and paean ships on Saturday winning the event for the 20th and 19th consecutive year respectively.

Here now to talk about the new us quite ugly act and paeans head coach Jerry baltas and coach.

Well, come on back to the program.

We talk about the cross country season.

They're really the Big 3 right ankle yaks regionals and nationals.

This is the first of that big 3 on the campus of Saginaw Valley state.

How was the event that the men and women.

>> Yeah.

It's one thing we do talk about is the you know, it's a three-step process and we can't look past this first step with the glee act temp in ships and certainly want to keep the streak going.

Certainly don't want to be the the team that that streak ends on.

But yeah, you know, there's a lot of uncertainty going into the event.

They got a lot of rain over the last few days of the week.

The course is a muddy mess actually on Friday.

We weren't even able to get on it for practice.

You know, I walked out there a little bit.

There wasn't a dry spot course and a lot of standing water.

So just a muddy message out there in our student athletes handled that well, there's 2 components of that yet worry about every step, whether you're sliding slip in, you know, staying on your feet.

And we didn't really know the course normally to their course.

It's been around.

And you've seen it before or you get out on it the day before you get a general idea of the lay of the land and we didn't get to have that opportunity.

So you sort of taken the racing as it goes in and just hope and you're in the right spot to make moves at the end.

And probably the biggest effect was that was Isaac and Tanner.

Chad, a, you know, running a head to head race with the home town favor to Carly stem full from sagging on and they got away from enough over the last 1000 meters that to get to want to finish on the guys side.

How did the course compared to maybe the one in Pittsburgh in 2018 when the that mud was all over there as well as that was a comparable to the you could put that experience to help.

This time.

We only got a couple athletes that ran those races out there.

Tanners pot, Chad.

You know, it's one of those finished 16th out there in Pittsburgh.

But he thought that these conditions were worse as far as peer mud and sloppy mean there's 3, 4, 5, 6, inch of puddles throughout the course.

So, you know, the difference was that Pittsburgh.

There's a lot of hills and even miss.

This is pretty much flat.

You warm worrying about AIG slipping and going down and then it's just a smaller field size.

So that help matters.

>> 100%.

Let's talk about both of the races.

Start with the women.

I mean, one through 8 coach to take.

That is that's dominance to a tease.

So tell us about the experience on the women 6 case.

>> Yeah.

The ladies did a great job of just getting out and established in a position had some good groups running together at 4, 5, or rowing together early on through halfway through the race before.

That's split up a little bit and their second crew of ladies did a great job of, you know, establish an position and then a couple of them coming on late the past couple women from other teams to solidify one through 8.

You know, first time that we've ever swept the women's side a few years ago.

Our men went one through 5 up in Hillsdale.

But first time in our program history to do this only second time in black history that a perfect score has been put together on the women's side in the throw, you know, 6, 7, 8, on top of the 5th.

Pretty impressive.

And then, you know, another side note, there are great for one or type top 5 runners didn't race, just played it safe.

So yeah, feel pretty good about the performance they put out and where we're at.

>> Certainly showcased the depth of this team in down the stretch to have had an Claudia kind of neck and neck for that individual glee act Tempe an ship that be pretty special for your team is what have that kind of a foot race there for the individual title.

>> Yeah.

I think it's a combination.

You know, you talk about race and 2 together with each other for each other.

But it's in the end of the day you want to win or a hand has been steady all year.

Claudia did a great job of role in what they are the whole way.

And you know, you're in that race speech a few more times cloudy me when a couple times.

But and it's been real sound up front.

They're great to see a quality close that gap honor.

>> Then you mentioned the fun on the 8 K with the 2 top horses for you and I as a contender going neck-and-neck with the Saginaw boy coming down the stretch.

Take us through that race.

What you saw from the men's side, you guys pull out another 19th consecutive win.

>> Yeah.

You know those 3 guys are through the best.

The B potentially compete for the National individual national championship in Florida and in 4 weeks, you know, I like our chances when it's all said and done, our guys ran a really smart, much.

Theresa Serbian patients early on and has put the hammer down over the last 2 K I think will be better over 10 K when we moved the 10 K at the regional national meat.

So I like our chances, but they need to spread a real mature racing and put the hammer down over the last 1000 meters and open up a little gap on that.

>> The kind of preview did there.

But 2 weeks now until the regionals with like we mentioned is a three-step process.

So what is the next 2 weeks look like as you get ready for regionals.

>> But certainly, you know, make sure healthy coming off this weekend and then Friday will be our last really, really big a session.

Heart session.

We'll get after Friday and then go down Evansville next week to yeah, basically a 3 goals going in the regional championship.

Number ones qualify for them to a championship to to come out of it as healthy as possible.

So we'll try to pull the reins back a little bit.

You can't run easy but just run a little bit more controlled now have an all out effort in the 3rd 33rd goal is to compete for a regional championship present ourselves.

So, you know, the interesting thing is that, you know, a lot of times we won't have our top kids race for individual title holding back a little bit run with the team.

Make sure we advance, you know, get back to work one last week prior to Penn State championships in in in November.

>> Big picture thinking that's why you're the goat and congratulations on glee axed after the year as well.

Congratulations looking for the region a couple weeks.

Thanks, Jay.

Right back with more of the Grand Valley State sport.

Sport continues on WDTN [MUSIC] [MUSIC] number 8 Grand Valley State picked up a 28 to 24 ugly act road win at Northern Michigan Saturday afternoon at the superior dome.

The Lakers improved to 6 in one overall and 3 in one ugly AK action this season.

Joining us now to talk about the team's head coach Matt Mitchell and coach.

We talked about all week long and emotional bounce back game for your team this week to go on the road, get that win in this period.

Biggest backer team.

>> It was glad that we're able to get on the road, get the win didn't get off to a very good start, obviously started with a 3 and out on offense that Ponte they got a short field held the field goal which was positive.

And then we fumbled a kickoff return but a good defense.

A lot of credit even though things are very clean when they got the red zone, we held them some field goal attempts when they got down there and then, you know, offensively really the possessions, the entire game just kind of way the floor.

The game went with some special teams things that happened in and we have long fields.

I think probably think that was probably the most disappointing thing for me was just average starting field position.

You know, northern Michigan had a lot shorter fields.

We did a lot of had to do again with both sides of the ball.

The special teams weren't as good as the probably have been, you know, up until that point.

But part of our guys was a lot of adversity.

Some of it, as I mentioned, postgame a self-inflicted, I thought northern Michigan lot of credit got some skill players back on offense or turn.

A couple are receiving a couple tailbacks back.

And I think they kind of showed up.

And you know, they competed they've they've played very well in the dome and they really brought a fake field goal is just a lot of things covered for 4th down just a really aggressive in the way they try to play the game.

So what are those games were.

You know, after we got that first touchdown, we never trailed the entire game, but it was certainly close throughout the course of it.

Just kind of those good at hard fought road.

Bottles that you if you feel good about getting the W. >> You mentioned the slow start to me one of the biggest plays in the game came in that 1st quarter when northern mission was knocking on the door after that fumbled kickoff to get that take away right back and give yourself that momentum that seems like even those early in the game.

>> So a really big play.

There was a huge play.

I mean, a lot to be part of a really good job coming coming downhill and forcing the ball out.

It was legit fumble on tape and, you know, credit or offense taking that turnover and going all the way down, you know, really long extended drive get her defense on the bench a little bit kind of kept that are touchdown.

And again, really proud of our offense.

Got the red zone 3 times.

We score touchdowns.

We never had to settle for field a one time and they had to settle for, you know, 3 field goals.

And we've got to stop on time as much with the turnover.

So they have 4 trips where they did not score touchdowns.

That was really, you know, you know, big thing.

And I think for our in offensive Lee ran the ball effectively got real.

Still try to get maybe the backs, you know, to make some guys miss in the second level.

You know, I thought, okay, played well, except for one or 2 plays.

I thought he played really well.

Really competitive on the road.

We had a lot of freshman really step up.

You know, rise was out with an injury still down.

Our senior saver Juwan Johnson and David Anderson's down.

See still have these younger crew guys stepped up.

And that flea-flicker there to Jalen Tillman was a great call executed very well.

His wide open and that was kind of the deal got to score early with a little more comfortable.

The 4th quarter for for you mentioned Mister Connor risers made it even more important.

That bright Sean Wallace has a big game.

He comes out.

He really was not only emotionally but also your physical later on the offensive side of the ball this week.

You had a great week of practice.

I'm going to know he was the healthiest tailback heading into the contest of the guys play a little banged up.

We started him in and he really led to a really good job special down the red zone finding those the end zone on a couple.

Those go on runs and, you know, sealed the deal for us.

We need that first down at the end of the game because the format offensive mode.

He really got in there with smart about things to not not trying to score a call that a bear play.

Get the first down, go down and just was really smart football player.

He's having a great senior year and really appreciate his leadership.

You know, we've talked about that, especially with her eyes been out and he was or other kind of leadership on offense.

He did a really good job.

>> I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about the other side of the ball and the game that 8 wants and how to get 17 tackles a huge sack on 3rd down to force northern Michigan, settle for a field goal.

He was everywhere from the middle linebacker spot.

Yes, championship-level effort was everywhere.

Like you said, really didn't miss any tackles at all.

>> A lot of plays in the run game.

You know, get northern Michigan broke out a lot of new stuff on offense and I think his veteran experience really showed because it didn't faze him a lot regards to some things that they're doing that we have not really prepped for seen on tape played great.

And I think, you know, the D line in front of the interior defensive line was it was a product of this production also have to give a tremendous amount of credit to those guys.

But, you know, dzeko Chris redshirt freshman played great of a proper best defensive lineman and the other got to give a lot of credit for its been played well, but had his best after the season.

Jake, lot of that decline was everywhere played a lot of energy emotion filled out, got some disruptions on the quarterback in his best game.

And again, a lot like an all-conference type performance of the contest.

>> Special teams had some issues early on.

But at on-side kick recovery, Jack prevention.

The way he attacked that ball field.

That game ball.

Back for you guys going to be the chance to run out the clock.

>> The thing that had to make us a special teams coach really happy.

It was, you know, and I guess that we didn't get much on kickoff.

Return gave up a little bit on that.

So the kickoff kickoff return was a great but at the end of the day when we did, we wreck that every Friday and a walk through.

We had our hands team in place and great, great job by Jack Wilson, the coaching, you know, bottles at the 10 yards for us.

We can attack a downhill.

He attacked the football.

You know, he would wait for the play to come to him early attacked it.

And you know, that was you to that point time.

>> You get the wind to bounce back kind of ride through that emotion coming off the fairest game.

Now you return back home for homecoming.

This is an interesting one because of playing Michigan Tech for a second time around waters kind of the mindset going into a second time playing ugly act vote this year.

Yeah.

Author obviously wants that game 44 to 21 were up 30.

Nothing at halftime.

I think the biggest message is just because that happened.

That doesn't mean it's going to happen again.

You know, we've got to we've got to get on tape.

They have.

>> They have morphed and changed as has we.

This is not the same 2 teams necessarily the played in the first game and they continue to tweak some things just like we have.

So we have to really dig on the last couple weeks.

Taping kind of see what they bring excited get back home.

Obviously after, you know, the first game.

Want to get back out there on our home field.

And as you look with 3 games left to were at the regional rankings.

This is a big game because Michigan Tech is over 500.

This will be another win for our playoff resume of a team over 500 will boost that up to just be in for one on teams of 500.

So this is really big game.

Not only just in terms of conference race homecoming, a lot of things that go on a Grand Valley.

But you start look at the regional rankings which the first ones will come out today.

>> You know this this is an important contest for those sure.

As we hit crunch time, we're excited to be back home to have a coach.

That's a look this week.

Thanks as always.

Your time.

Thank you.

Don't go away.

The Grand Valley.

State sport continues right after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] GSU women soccer captures 2 more wins this weekend as they continue to stay ranked first in the nation.

The Lakers flex their muscle in a resounding win 5 nothing over the Michigan Tech Huskies Friday afternoon 4 different Lakers scored in the match.

Katie Barron scored twice while Taylor Reed scored and dish to assist to lead the Laker attack.

Reid got the Lakers on the board first when Cecilia Stein washer loft the ball over the tech defense to the right wing for Darlene rather maker who looped a perfect cross to the back post where it was all alone to head the ball in just before the half the Lakers would add some breathing room credit to low slung the ball to the top of the box for Sean.

Tell Carranza who curled the ball along the turf just inside the right post for 2 a lead at the break.

Barron would score twice within a 2 minute span around the hour mark to put the game away.

GSU who entered the game leading the nation in assists and assists per game utilize 7 assists on the day for their 5 goals.

Kendall Robertson say the only shot he faced to preserve the shutout, the 10th clean sheet of the season for the Lakers on Sunday.

The Lakers would take down Davenport to the tune of a 3 when the Lakers pitch their second straight shutout and improved to 10 o and one in the glee AK after a slow scoreless 1st half saw the Lakers down in total shots.

The 2nd half.

So the Lakers return to form with 3 scores and outshot the Panthers 11 to 2 credit to Los got the Lakers in front just 5 minutes into the 2nd half after Kennedy beard and set her up one on one in the midfield duo to beat the defender down the field, then rolled a shot into the right corner past the diving keeper for the lead Beard would do it.

Herself.

7 minutes later taking a square in pass from Stephanie sturgeon and blistering a 30 yarder into the net after a few more opportunities including a ringer off the bar by beard and the Missouri connection struck with mackenzie Jones setting up Taylor read for her 5th goal of the season.

With just 3 minutes left in regulation to cap off the win Robertson collected her second consecutive clean sheet in that with a pair of saves, including one in the final minute to preserve the 11th shutout of the season for the team to get us back on the road Friday, October 29th at Parkside for a 01:00PM et.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> GSU Bali ball nab 2 wins this weekend in Allendale the Lakers would take down Lake Superior state on Friday followed by a win against North.

But on Sunday at the GSU Fieldhouse arena is now to talk about his team's head coach Jason Johnson and coach 5 straight wins for your team.

Now since that disappointing loss a couple weeks ago to get back home.

Get 2 more big wins and ugly act play good bounce-back urging once again, Rob, very much so.

>> It's funny.

Say get back home.

And I feel like we're in a foreign court when we're playing because members have at home enough to where I feel like we play well at home.

We still got into that comfort zone of passing well, playing good defense offense clicking the way it needs to.

And some of that just not enough time on the court even though we practice every day.

It's a different environment during a game.

>> It certainly is.

But you at least get back on your home court for this weekend's start with Lake Superior state on Friday night.

It was a little bit touch and go in that first set.

But things really level out towards the end of that.

And from there on how much of the conversation was coming out of that crossover about the sense of urgency here in these next 3 weeks quite a bit.

You know, we knew that coming out of the crossover we needed to do well there.

>> Which set us up regionally and a good conversation which Billy rankings come out this week.

But then we knew we had 6 matches left in the conference to improve our see the conference tournament along with help our case for a regional berth.

And so we knew starting this this weekend that we needed to get 2 wins to be able to continue to stay in track with those top teams in the conference right now.

>> Start with the lake Superior state matches your 2 seniors that we've talked about a lot, but they've really come on strong at this portion of the season.

It feels like Allie Thompson.

Abby Graham once again leading the way.

>> Yeah, this is what you're hoping for.

You're hoping your senior start leading towards the end of the year.

You know, you're hoping that you've done enough to put yourself in a good conversation, which I think we have.

But now it's about seniors.

You know, pushing this team to the finish line.

And I think they're starting to see it.

You're seeing in the stats.

But you're also seeing a daily in practice where their expectations for their teammates are being a little more vocal at this point.

>> What was the transition from set one to set 2, 3, in that Lake state game because the Lakers go from getting to 50 in the first set to negative in the second set under a 100 the 3rd.

That's what seemed like the defense really stepped up in the numbers.

What you see on the court.

Yeah, I I would agree with that.

>> I think we started getting into a better flow of our offense.

I think what that does is it dictates terms on the other side of the court a little bit more and others serving a little bit better as the match wore on.

But again, it's lack of production to start the first set a lack of urgency and or focus.

However you want to call it to come off with a faster start at home.

>> But you take the Friday night match in straight sets get Saturday off, which is a unique situation in this world.

You usually play Friday Saturday or Saturday Sunday to have that split.

How did that change how you can operate this week or did it.

>> I kind of liked it.

I like having a day in between to prepare for another match.

Now you can say enjoy playing on Sunday all the time.

I thought I like having that is our built in day off.

But I do enjoy the fact that we had time to prop were able to come in and get a practice and go over the scouting report, make some adjustments not only with the lineup but also with our defensive set up to be able to prepare ourselves for northwood.

>> You guys obviously have a ton of urgency but northwood does too, because they were in a 3 way tie for that 7 through 9 spots.

Obviously they're pushing for a berth in the glee.

Actor meant they know every game is big and you can kind of feel that in that match on Sunday.

Couldn't you.

>> Yeah.

I felt the first that they actually had a better focus and intensity than we did starting the match.

You know, I think it shows up in the stats.

I think they had almost 3.60 in the first set.

You know, I didn't think are blocking our defense played particularly well.

But I also felt our offense was a little sluggish to start with.

We made a couple adjustments.

We started in different rotation.

But then after set one, we made a couple adjustments with the lineup as well.

And I thought they made a difference in what we're doing.

>> In that first set the outside hitters for them are really, really good.

Megan acts had a huge for second on the Martin's, especially number 19 was really, really good but midway through that second set.

It seems like you guys figured out something to slow them down without giving away too many secrets with the adjustment may be.

>> The kind of harder for their outside to get I think a couple things that, you know, one of the things the challenger team was to be used to be a little more physical with are serving.

I felt like the last few matches.

We've been a little more conservative.

We haven't gone after little more.

And as I preach to them all the time.

I'll accept errors.

If I feel like we're getting the reward when we're putting them in place.

But I felt like we're not making a lot of errors, which is good.

But I also don't think we're putting the pressure on teams I felt northwood was in great system early on in that first set.

I think that was a big change halfway through the second set and then we made a a little bit of a diss defensive shift and tried to make some adjustments up at the net as well as in the back row, you really see some of the heavier swings coming particularly from the middle of it seems like there are a lot more aggressive in those last 3 sets.

Was that the point of contention as well.

That was.

But it also comes down to our ball control in serve receive I didn't feel early on.

We were very good.

We're playing a lot about a system ball, which means we're probably set the ball out to our pins a little more whereas sets late in set 2 and then 3, 4, were able to keep our middles involved, which we have to do to be successful.

You know, I think our puns have done a great job.

But at the end of the day, we're going to we're going to go success.

Wise is how or middle school.

>> We went to success this weekend of the 2 into a know your now won 5 straight.

That doesn't get any easier here this week as Ferris state comes to town on Friday and Davenport on Saturday rematch with Paris on Friday should be heavily emotional match.

A big match for that top portion, the standings.

What can we expect this weekend.

>> I think exactly reset.

I think it should be an emotional match.

I think there there's a lot on the line here.

You know, it's it's getting that win over Ferris helping our improve.

Our seed finding a way to defend our home floor, which we haven't lost on only been home for 4 matches.

But, you know, I think it was one of our kids goals to be strong at home.

And so it is there's a lot riding on it.

We want to get those wins over teams that are up ahead of us in the conference and probably the region at this point so that we can continue to improve our seed and get where we want to go.

>> Well, obviously winning controls what you can control.

Find out where you stand in the region this week.

And obviously we know where you stand in the conference but still 4 games to do something about that coach.

Looking forward to some really good volleyball this weekend at home.

That's a look this week.

Thanks as always.

Rick dot, thank you.

Appreciate it.

Don't touch that remote.

We'll be right back with more of the Grand Valley State sport report right after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> There is no next point.

You give it up for uber while Jason Johnson navigate smoothly through his first year as the Lakers volleyball coach, part of the credit goes to his team's quarterback center, Rachel Jack way.

3 wins recently in the Midwest region.

Crossover tournament.

Rachel was a all tournament.

Team selection as her team down to Ohio Dominican Indianapolis and southern Indiana.

>> It was really good for us to bounce back from the weekend before we were going to and to come out and win 3 in was really good.

One.

>> Very pleased with where we're at.

And I think now the gating one covid protocols.

But your way.

What not having a real long offseason to get in better shape.

>> I'm pleased.

We're out right now.

A regular since her freshman year in Allendale the winds against the Indiana teams were especially gratifying for Jack way.

It was Indiana prep star in Fort Wayne before coming York with the hopes of getting in engineering a Grand Valley, which is not just scientifically minded Rachel's artistic band includes playing the piano drawing and painting all skills that had to her creativity as the facilitator of her team's attack.

>> In sports are imperfect.

And if you can't have lived, if you can't figure it out without spending hours to figure it out.

You're going to struggle in this game and she has done that over the years.

She's had to work our way into learning that sports are about feel and flow.

>> So Jason is very much based on all the growth mindset as well as just grinding in in the ground hard and running with it.

And so he wants to get better every day.

He inspires us to work as hard as we can to make each other better.

>> Through 19 matches.

The Lakers have dominated to have the net with more than 120 kill shots of their rivals this year.

Thanks to Jack.

Boys.

Ability to pick out a pass.

3 big hitters.

Upfront have already registered more than 200 points to help Grande Valley when 11 of its last 14 outings.

>> This year.

Really singer like settle kind of warned her role just so much more confidence resort or energy and just really run the court.

And I think that the top button us is hitters.

She just and that's really easily.

We don't connect on one ball.

All make an adjustment.

I'll tell you what I need and then she'll fix.

So she's really gone.

>> The relationship between the center and hitters is often the best indicator of how a team can expect.

Some hitters are only good on one side of the court.

Some need a long run up on their approach while others prefer a quick set at the net.

That means there's a big need not just for a center whose at one who knows what pieces around.

So normally rely on the block policy, the block in my peripheral vision and then based on the block.

I will try to trick them or just go away from them so I can get my hitters.

A one-on-one significant with 4 straight matches at home to close out October Grande Valley's in a good spot to improve its standing heading into the Clery act it next month is Jason Johnson continues to look for the right combinations on the outside of his team's formations, rest easy knowing that in reaching jet way.

He's got a player who can direct traffic on the ground while launching opportunities for her teammates in the sky for the Grand Valley.

State sports report.

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

State sports report, the Laker football team will take on Michigan Tech this weekend in Allendale.

They will be broadcast on WGVU is that you're not able to make it out to the stadium.

It makes you didn't hear at 03:00PM on Saturday.

October 30th as the team celebrate homecoming, Judy issue.

Women soccer will head down to Kenosha, Wisconsin for a road match against Parkside this Friday kickoff for their only game this weekend is slated for 01:00PM dsu volleyball look to keep their five-game win streak alive for a pair of games will take on Thursday at 03:00PM on Friday and the GSU Fieldhouse arena, but by a matchup against Davenport on Saturday at 03:00PM.

>> Dsu swimming and diving will host northern Michigan this weekend.

The meeting scheduled for 05:00PM on October 29th at the GSU pull in Allendale for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program, visit GSU Lakers dot com to see more of this show and or youtube channel at youtube dot com slash WGVU 35 make sure to 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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