>> 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 the GSU volleyball team as they prepare for a first-round matchup in the nca tournament.

Get your football wrapped up their seat.

As we look ahead to what's next for the team did issue women's basketball comes away with 2 wins in Florida this weekend edition men's basketball also found a way to win 2 in Florida as they begin glee at play this week.

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

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> The GSU volleyball team found a path to the nca tournament receiving an at large bid last week.

They'll take on Hillsdale this Thursday in the first round as they make the tournament for the first time since 2015 now to talk about the games head coach Jason Johnson and coach of the Senate.

First time since 2015 you talked about this all year being a goal to get back to the nca tournament.

Congratulations with this mean to you in your program.

Thanks.

You know, means a lot.

Obviously a secure drop since we've been Ben into the NCAA tournament.

I think that's part of building this program back in trying to get it into an annual thing that we're trying to do.

But as I told our players, I think more than anything it's recognizing how many teams are in the region and you will.

Your body of work got you in.

So while we would have probably like to perform a little bit better and some of the other matches leading up to this.

I think the fact that we got there and what we did throughout the season was a testament to why we got the at-large bid and you had all those early road tournaments for you to go and play these games.

But how much does that help you now coming in to another situation where theoretically you could play 3 straight days in the same summer to perform at right.

I think being on the road, our kids are obviously used to navigating it.

I think the format of understanding how it's how you have to prepare to play back to back to back it again.

We haven't had the situation where we have to play 3 in a row.

So it's going to be about managing it.

If we get get by the first.

Then it's taken care of the second we get by the second and it's about, you know, what does anybody have left on day 3 and how well can you perform once you get there.

We'll talk about Hillsdale here in a moment.

But I want to go back to that senior class because you've talked about them wanting to leave a legacy and wanting to make a guided your program through some tough times for them to get back.

Now here to the nca term regardless of results this week.

It has to be such a great moment for them.

That selection show.

Just take us back to that when those seniors realize that they have finally gotten this team back to where you want to be.

Yeah.

You know, I think it's a little bittersweet.

They they are excited.

They're obviously.

And but I think they were also hoping to be sitting in a little bit different space as far as where rate range going into it.

But I think when we sat there and watch the selection show.

The thing that really stood out was how excited they were when that name a Grand Valley was up on the screen.

And I think that alone just talked about the importance of being a part of the NCAA tournament again and giving us an opportunity.

The one thing I keep trying to tell him is that this point, everybody 0, 0, 8, a one and done you know, it's it's win in advance.

And that salt about at this point doesn't matter how you do it or what you did prior.

It's about giving your church yourself a shot now that you're here.

What can you do with it and you found out the week before Thanksgiving a long time here to got to prepare and look and see what the bracket looks like.

You match up with Hillsdale in that first game.

What have you seen from Hillsdale.

Can we expect out of the charges for their good team out of the team.

A very good team, lots of success.

I think the one thing if you talk to our players about is they know how to win.

I mean, they're accustomed to their program.

That is consistently the top of their conference consistently getting into the NCAA tournament.

So it's not going to about nurse for them.

It's going to be about performance and for us, it's about what can we do on our side of the net.

What can we do to disrupt some of the things they're trying to do on their side.

But I think I like the matchup.

I like the team are playing against.

You know, Chris is a former Grand Valley coach and I love being able to have an opportunity to coach against him.

Well, that's awesome.

You get a chance this week to go on the road up to big Rapids.

Have a great trip up their coach.

Congratulations once again getting back to the nca tournament.

No easy feat.

You do in your first year at the helm of the program is an awesome testament to what you've done with this program.

So congratulations and best of what this week.

Thanks, Jack.

Appreciate it.

Don't go way to Grand Valley.

State sports.

Poor continues right after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] Number 4 Grand Valley State dropped to 54 to 20 decision at number one Ferris state Saturday afternoon in NC a a super region.

3 action.

The Lakers conclude the 2021 campaign with a 10 2 record.

Joining us now to talk about a team and what's next for the Lakers as head coach Matt Mitchell coach, thanks much for your time this morning.

Obviously not the way you wanted your season to end, but still at playoff win a tenant to record a lot to be proud.

I know it still kind of fresh 40 take away from this incredible season.

We've got the 50th year of Laker football.

>> Yeah.

In terms of the you know, you got to Makar versus the micro.

No doubt about it.

We look at the big picture, you know, I thought we've put together a lot of changes since 2019 put together really, really quality team, a team that was able to win, you know, 10 games advance to the second round of playoffs and really with a lot of use, a lot of younger guys involved in that equations.

Really kind of heard for seniors.

So I'd ever seen her so much credit because, you know, we're the only level scholarship football but did not have competition.

The previous academic year as allies guys had to make tremendous sacrifices to stay pretty much an extra year delay things.

The next year to compete.

And you know, so it's tough on Saturday that we have the seniors that are put in so much time and effort for them to a year lose and specifically lose little bit.

That fashion was was a difficult Walker next the game.

But the further away you get from that loss.

I think you can look back and we celebrate our seniors because I don't know that we do go tended to and find ourselves in that game.

Had it not been for that senior class.

Big learning experience for players of their Saturday.

No doubt about it.

We did not not play.

Great football gave up too many explosive plays.

And, you know, we found ourselves behind J.

It kind of got into a for the game that was uncharacteristic not a winning formula for us.

You know, I will play it all.

The staff are going to how much of this despite we've got to try to you know, we have to win this game for players.

And so we're forced drop back to pass a new, you know, got way, way too much in the pass game.

And for the ball, some play action.

Some of the things have been success for offensively.

So can turn the ball over 5 times in a playoff action to give up that many explosives.

And, you know, we just with special those weather conditions that was really difficult center to try to comfort those from behind given the circumstances.

>> The obviously you'll never make excuses with the weather.

But a lot of your stuff has been horizontal trying to move the ball left to right.

How much of the weather play into the game plan.

And it all that.

>> I mean, we kind of had a better feel as we get further on the week that it was whether made may be a factor, you know, in regards to the game.

So, you know, I think we try to do a little bit more stuff where we didn't have to do as much change direction.

Offense play, you know, water runs downhill when we're able to get some runs.

We actually had some, you know, some success, the run game and try to a bit more vertical passing right was tougher when you're trying to run full speed and really make those those concentrate change direction so that that impact of things.

But, you know, the first game were able to start to run the ball.

And I think we could have ran the ball better.

But the score just got itself in a position dictated where we couldn't and we had some series in the 1st quarter that, you know, really hurt us on both sides.

The ball and we give up the big touchdown run.

The open driver officers.

A great job coming back are responding and then we get a stop on defense to get the ball back.

And you in a bad snap.

We find ourselves in the second 25 some bad field position.

Give them a shorter field.

And then, you know, things kind of again, we've got that way.

I think the other big, you know, possession forces.

We had the ball at the end of the 1st half with an opportunity to go down.

And, you know, come to think potentially to 2 scores and then we get the ball to start the 2nd half.

And we had a you know, we were moving the ball and had had a midfield turnover on a fumble.

And you know, that kind of took some life out of this, too.

Had we been able to potentially scorn at 2 scores.

It will start 2nd half.

You can start eke away for a little bit better stick their game plan.

But we really got out of our game plan really early based on some inefficiencies offensively and given up some explosive defense for it.

>> We talk about this team.

I talked about the seniors.

I want to talk about the youth because we've mentioned all year long how young this team has been.

We look at the macro.

Like you said, what you see in the growth of this young football team.

And what positives you hope maybe they can take out of this experience.

Obviously not the result we wanted but still a chance to play a big-time playoff football game.

>> Yeah.

I think that's an excellent point.

What I said.

The locker room was, you know, first of all, the guys are seniors.

I thank them for everything.

And you know, so wouldn't be here without you.

Second thing.

I told you know the rest, the guys for coming back to class to show his majority of a roster that, you know, I'm not cut.

So the baby out with the bath water.

But we have to try to put ourselves in a position when these types of games and advance past the Sweet 16 to the finally put ourselves in a position to a move on further.

And I think now you guys understand what it takes when you get to this level has a lot of guys had not experienced that.

You understand what it takes.

From everything you don't talk in top down Street conditioning.

The time don't preparation techniques, fundamentals.

The whole thing.

I mean, it's just it's going to be competitive when you get to the final 16, the family, the Final 4 hopefully got a taste of that.

And we're able to kind of feel what that is.

And so I've got to try to use his experiences to fuel this team were take some time off over Christmas break and a finish out.

The semester academically get back in here.

Do we do get back to work in January and start to assemble a team that to compete for championships as we head into 2020 to seize.

>> I'm glad you mentioned the kind of the next steps that I want to go to wrap this thing up.

As you look forward to help you get to enjoy a little bit of time off.

It's well deserved for everybody.

But when you get back to work with such a team, a young team that has a lot of these key pieces returning what kind of the first steps in January to start this thing off for 2022.

>> Relationships.

You know, I think you have a lot of younger kids that played.

But we also have a class of some freshman.

I think that out of there on the scout team that sometimes a little bit isolated just because the nature of how things work.

And so we've got to get those guys part of the brotherhood you were talking about.

We all we got.

We got started building of those freshmen with someone's upperclassman people.

Those guys have played really high expectation levels and start to integrate some of the younger player.

There's the program.

What was going to stay active to Jake what the person potential transfers a key positions that can look to improve and augment our roster.

And so really about, you know, January February.

My relationship streets conditioning really trying to sharpen that sort individually collectively spring ball.

I think it's going to be really important next year because you do have some returning pieces coming back that have played a lot of football.

You get up on those in with some experienced guys and you have to get really corny wraps.

We've got to start taking a look to the offensive defensive.

These coaches schemes.

What is or should look like and what are we going to be doing offense and defense.

The schematic wise for kids in the best position start to play.

So that and then you'll start to look at.

I know 2022 is going to be challenging.

You know, you open with college School of mines is on a great run right now in the playoffs there in the finally coast.

Probably know is going to be loaded to bear come back and obviously got, you know, fair state is having a great year too.

So right off the bat is probably the first 5 weeks you have 3 potential playoff teams.

And so no time to worry about that too much.

But yet we'll get back in there.

Get your coaches and players look for to build this thing back.

>> Well coach, obviously the weight and is not the way we wanted.

But thank you so much for being with us all year long.

And congratulations.

What really was an outstanding season with a very young team.

The future is very, very bright for this program is a big reason why in the cultures, but also to be around.

So congrats on a great year for everything you've done and we look for talking against that.

>> Austin Peay.

She ate those comments and the appreciate you guys want us to work to be subsumed in other ways.

And so enjoy your holidays.

But we'll see.

>> Likewise are busy guy.

We've got to don't go away.

The Grand Valley State put up or continues right after this.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] GSU women's basketball came away with 2 wins this week in Florida, beating Rollins college on Friday, then following up with a win against every really University on Saturday.

3 is now as a team starts glee at play this week as head coach Mike Williams, the coach.

Welcome back.

Up north some snow to reach back from Florida.

But how was the trip down south.

>> To go was great.

Pretty uneventful, obviously would one of the 2 busiest travel days of the year.

But we got down there and we got back in the Nick of time.

And then I add green with some snow and some.

>> Some cold.

But that's what we're going to get used to that here for the next 3, 4, months.

Okay.

We'll talk about the basketball here in a moment.

But the opportunity for this team to bond a lot of young players on this team with the bonding experience like it.

How does your team kind of jail this weekend out of Clark Thanksgiving weekend.

>> Well, it was really good.

You know, I I think was a good.

So it's kind of an event that we didn't do a lot.

You can hung up by the pool a little bit, you know, did did some shopping at the mall.

That's dinners.

Play games can at the hotel.

But it was good to get away.

It was really good to to go down there.

A change of scenery I think was kind of nice is it gets long here in that long stretch right now.

And then we come back here play a few games and then we the chance to go home for Christmas break.

But I think all all I think we learned a lot through this trip.

And I think it was very, very good.

>> We take on to division 2 team to start with Rollins college was hosting the Invitational and point to get off to a hot start 26 to 5 in the 1st quarter against Rollins was the key to the quick start now.

>> Well, I thought we had a lot of pop and energy probably getting down there taking a few days off and ready to play.

And it was new for our players.

And I got that great excitement.

The bench.

A lot of energy.

I thought we know we play that way.

We attacked offensively at that.

We're really active defensively know their hands get up and down the floor and our players were willing to make plays.

And I thought that was the key to we scored 26 with 20 points in the 1st quarter.

So was it was a great start.

>> Yeah.

26 to 5 after the 1st quarter kind of puts things in perspective.

One of things I know about this box scores coach.

All the minutes are very balanced.

It seems like a really good rotation.

No one's really play more than 22 minutes.

Nobody got on the floor played less than 17.

Everything seems very even in terms of trying to get some rotations it.

>> You know, we're trying that early, especially in.

These are your nonconference games, maybe not as important but still important in the overall division.

2 ranking system.

But we are trying to play more players.

Keep players.

Fresh came out of foul trouble.

And I think we've got a balanced group.

You know you're going to see occasions.

Anyone can lead you in scoring you saw last last week at quail.

Let us in rebounding.

Anyone can listen rebounding.

We've got a balance crew defensively.

And so I think there's a lot of Perry and her team.

It's either probably see balance minutes, maybe balanced scoring and, you know, balance allows this to a statistical categories.

>> You know, in that first game against on.

So maybe weren't so happy with the way your team competed on the glass.

But ever since then your team is out rebound.

Your opponent by pretty good Martin.

The same thing happened this week.

What's the what's been the conversation.

Has there been a constant effort now to try to force that mean quite had 7, 4, rebounds in that game against Rollins.

You seem like you've ever since that.

So game.

You have dominated on the glass.

>> Yeah.

Show at 7.

She Thomas year double double so early.

Double double against Finley.

That's but against Polish only had 7 rebounds and she was close to a double double.

>> Yeah, no, I think we made a bigger emphasis on it.

I think the teams we played maybe are the strong on the glass is so was a pretty good rebounding team that to 3 players inside that can really rebound.

But yeah, I think there's been an emphasis that bigger players are.

You know, I think one when we struggle in an area and we address that our players do a pretty good was a pretty good job responding to it.

And I think they make the change the adjustment.

And I think it you know, it's in there.

Radar moving forward.

They've done a good job with that.

>> Lead.

Rusty.

We talk about how her role is going to increase here this year.

Her bonus freshman year.

But it seems like she's been official on the floors has been really hunting shots the way.

Maybe she could she the finally do that and that Embry Riddle game.

Is that something that you noticed as well.

>> Well, again, I think again, I applaud our players and then coats is not the offense but their players take.

What's given to him?

You know, I don't think they tried to force anything or, you know, force the envelope and you know that game.

That was a war zone action.

I thought were great ball movement.

They were probably shading a little bit more because she's Mark.

We are shooter and Ellie Ellie responded.

No, saw it again, I think there was an emphasis to maybe catches shoot more, but more shots that we kind of went on stall mode and the rounds game at that 1st quarter.

So I think again, she made the adjustment as to the rest of our players.

>> Yeah.

Fast.

Start the Rollins game 70 to 39.

Can you ever really get a little tighter at halftime.

The prefer maybe be a little more battle tested in a game like that on the back app and obviously you like playing in the back to back days.

But still that to be some tired legs on that Saturday play for the second consecutive day.

>> Yeah, again, we might get a bonus there.

We like you said, we played a lot of players even minutes.

They went in overtime in the game before lot of players like minutes and who knows, maybe they ran out cast in that 2nd half.

But yeah, I think it's any time.

You know, I was a coach.

You want to you want to see separation games.

You don't like those that are like those close games.

But I think it does help in the long run.

You know, you're gonna get into conference scheduled.

That's a monster.

Really balance.

Really good teams in the black this year.

What we're doing against other conferences.

So any time you get those battles with its for half are for the quarter for a whole game.

It's going to help you.

>> And that leads right into conference play starting this week, Saginaw Valley team again, you guys fits in those games and stuff in the season last year.

Their place looking expect this week.

>> Well, they're one of the top 5 teams, the country offensively.

They've got a lot of weapons.

You know, the score inside the can score outside think they've got the conference leading score.

No killings are key.

So again, and they're coming our place.

Obviously remember last year.

And they're competitive team they're playing to win this year.

And so yeah, I think it will be a great matchup.

Hopefully we can.

We'll be ready.

I believe in.

Can we respond.

>> I hope so.

I hope so too, are looking forward to a coach glee at play coming this week.

That's what they saw.

What appeared to.

All right, Jake, thank you.

Right back with more of the Grand Valley State put up or continues on WGN.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] GSU men's basketball remains undefeated through 5 games this year and won both of their Florida trip contest that took down Florida Southern on Friday that found a way to win a nail-biter against Saint Leo on Saturday to talk about team's head coach Rick Wesley coach out the trip down to Florida.

>> Well, it was pretty darned good go down there.

It's you know, it's a big expense.

It's a big commitment on our part hope to go down and do well.

But to come out there, too.

Winds made everything well worth the the expense and the travel.

>> This is kind of opposite of the women's team because you guys have such a veteran group that's been together for so long.

But how was the experience getting to go down as a group go down to Thanksgiving together.

>> It's been a few days down in some sunshine away from Michigan a little bit is great.

The weather was great.

You Orlando's a busy area.

So the getting in there, the first day was a little chaotic just getting out of the airport is located chaotic.

But, you know, we settle in and had a good Thanksgiving meal.

You know, good preparation.

But but it was a business trip and we're down there to take care of business.

And we certainly did.

That certainly did against Florida, Southern you win 75 to 60 to really strong 2nd half.

You come out of the locker room, you're down 10.

Go on that night run right out of the gate.

I don't know what you're doing.

Your halftime speeches that you guys have come out with some dominant efforts to start the 2nd half these last 3 games.

Tell us a bit about what these conversations been like the same.

Got to give the pre game so I can take a good point that one on JR. Yeah.

But we have a veteran group and you know, they kind of rebooted at halftime.

1st half of the floor, Southern game.

They're extremely hot and they're very talented team and boy, they came out guns, a blazing.

So we kind of do was stand that right before half.

We got it back to a 10 point deficit.

So it gave us a chance.

And then with a good start.

The 2nd half right back in the game.

And then as time went on, we played better and better and I kind of won going away.

Jake into Bergen is one ugly acts.

South player of the week into the first 2 weeks of this is nothing new.

But by thought he played his best game of the year, especially in that 2nd half on Friday against.

Yeah, he was really tremendous.

He's really playing hard getting to the glass rebounding really was a force in this game.

Want one of his best games.

I think he's had in his career.

So, you know, let's hope you can keep it up.

I think he's he's really focused and really committed at this point.

As all our guys are.

And so what will need that kind of play leadership as we head in our conference.

It just to drive home at 23 points.

Yet 13 rebounds, including 2 on the offensive glass and was just incredible.

9 of 14 from the floor as well doing it all for you guys.

You guys are able to get some separation down the stretch in that one beat the host of the tournament, which is always important.

Then you turn around against a good Saint Leo team that can really shoot.

It was kind of the opposite.

Look at your defense is really strong to start this one.

Yes, Leo's actually picked to finish higher than Florida Southern in their conference.

So, you know, they they have some talented players.

They run some good stuff.

This was a you know, typical second game of the tournament were both teams are a little bit tired.

But, you know, we play pretty well.

And then it kind of thought got the game under control at about the 10 minute mark in 2nd half, but just couldn't quite put them away.

And then they they were not a barrage of a 3 point shot and man really made it interesting.

And so we had to hang on there at the end.

But had we made a couple free throws.

>> Had a couple better offensive possessions in this game should not have been quite that close to that number.

11 Wade Coomer hit like 3 straight threes down the stretch.

They hit threes on 5 straight possessions as a team to make that thing a nail-biter at the end.

The guys find a way to pull it off.

It seem like coach when I watch the games this weekend.

Their post play your post play in the first game was what was dominant in the second game report.

A little more guard play.

Maybe that's because it was the second day of a back to back, maybe not quite as physical, but it simply in both of these games really saw both different units kind of shine in different moments.

>> Yeah, you know, we've got a pretty balanced team in the second game, I guess really had a good performance in kind of carried us for a while.

You know, de Leon Brown is now back in kind of short minutes is really made a big impact on their team as well.

So our schools, listen, jk Lewis came off the bench and had good performances.

So, you know, in these games against good teams.

You.

You never know where what you're going to need or where you're production is going to come from it.

We just keep preaching that our depth has got to be our strength and certainly paid off for some these turn.

The game's yeah, for a guy like Isaac, that has to feel so good to see him get going with shooters when they're not shooting great.

It's really tough to keep hunting shots and Isaac did a great job.

I thought especially that came on Saturday when you guys need some big buckets.

He wasn't afraid of taking made him this time, too.

Yeah.

You made some of his own and we found him a couple times with with some better passes.

You know, we haven't really been facilitating real well, and I think, you know, in our desire to kind of take on the burden individually.

We sometimes we don't make that extra pass in, you know, J Jordan, J K and now de Leon, we are all guys that can get in their break.

The defense down and in find the open man.

So I think we shoot the ball a lot better than what we've shown so far.

So something will continue work on.

>> Well, that's great news.

If you're 5 and you can shoot the ball even better.

That's important now is conference play begins.

Obviously very familiar opponents coming to town this week.

We start with Saginaw Thursday, Wayne state Saturday.

What can we expect this week or 2 really good conference opponents.

He you know, you've been through it.

I mean, it's it's.

>> It's just going to be a war saying about he's got a veteran team.

Delitos miss one of the best players in the conference.

You know, they beat Western Michigan pretty easily at Western Michigan.

So they certainly are playing with a lot of confidence in and we stay with the Brandon Neely and and owns white.

The guard back court.

You know, Avery Lewis, I mean, they're just physical and they're tough.

So, you know, I told our guys we kind of taking care of business.

Put yourself in a good position now.

But now here is the meat and potatoes of the season.

The conference play.

So I'm looking forward to it were healthy.

So hopefully have a good week of practice be ready to go.

>> It's in your home gym, which is awesome.

Can't wait to see those games this week.

Coach here at the 5 in oh, start through nonconference play.

Let's go get him going.

All right.

Thank you.

Right back with more of the Grand Valley State support for continues on WDTN.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] That's all the time we have this week on the Grand Valley State sports report GSU women soccer is back in action this weekend as they host the NC a a Midwest Regional championship on Friday, December.

32 PM makes you get out to the GSU soccer field to support the team as they battle sdsu for a chance to play in the NCAA quarter finals on Sunday.

Dsu volleyball take on Hillsdale in the first round of the N C a a playoffs on Thursday, December.

2nd at 02:30PM people take place in big Rapids did issue men's and women's basketball play at home this week for a pair of double headers.

We'll take on Saginaw Valley state this Thursday at 06:00PM for by both teams taking on Wayne state starting at 01:00PM on Saturday at the GSU Fieldhouse arena Judy Hsu swimming and diving will compete in the Calvin Invitational this week to meet takes place over the course of 3 days starting Thursday, December 2nd and wrapping up on December 4th.

>> Dsu indoor track and field starts up this week with the GSU holiday invite at the Kelly family sports Center on Friday for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program, visit GSU Lakers dot com to see more of this show head to our youtube channel at youtube.

Dot com slash WGVU 35.

They say the sky, but to get updated video highlights all year long for the entire crew here WGVU.

I'm Jake leading.

Have a great week.

Laker nation and is always a corrupt.

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