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

I'm your host EPA.

Lloyd Jones Laker football went on the road and dominated Wayne state this weekend to remain undefeated TV issue.

Women soccer came away with close wins this week against 2 familiar foes from the north Laker volleyball with one into last week as they got to play their home opener before heading on the road to the east side of the state.

And we'll give you an update on the women's golf team as they compete in the gold club Invitational at the medals and our future.

This week takes a deep dive into the women's soccer team and highlights a few of the student athletes making massive contributions this year Lockett in Laker nation as the Grand Valley.

State sports report starts right now.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Tvs you football is now 4 and oh, after dominating Wayne state in Detroit 48 to 9 head coach Matt Mitchell joins me to review the when I look ahead to a huge matchup this week in Allendale come to see much.

See you 48, 9.

Great job on the road here when state first of 2 times your point of this year, just general thoughts of how it unfolded.

>> Javid Wayne state through a lot out, especially their offense really came out, read a lot of different things that maybe we haven't seen a lot of tape, the first 3 games.

So, you know, I I was really during the game.

I was little bit frustrated, probably below back and watch the tape.

I think we kind of handled some of the newness of the chaos pretty well.

Both coaches and players on defense.

And obviously there's some bend but don't break defensively not only give up one touchdown.

I think, you know, that's that's were basically 3 weeks in a row where we've only given up one touchdown, get ready for its probably more credit this weekend that, you know, couple of weeks is because of the lot of new things we're trying to face defense played.

Well, you know, special teams really some good moments.

I thought, you know, the one kickoff return we have was good that he was not been great.

Gave up an explosive and then that, you know, offensively.

I thought we did a really good job with our 3 quarterback.

She okay.

Got the start.

Got a little bit banged up.

And, you know, said those cows there in the 3rd and 4th quarter thought Cal played great.

Maybe more continues to be a spark were 3 for 3 on 4th downs.

And that was really key.

Stay aggressive and we have to balance.

You know, we have good balance both one of the ball throw the ball trick Reid puts together another really strong game against a good opponent played well against Carter state public play well that the other night that 75 yard, touchdown run.

We saw some flashes of his top end speed.

And, you know, I think probably if there's one thing we are not turning the ball over and 3 consecutive games with no turnovers on offense.

And we're getting the turnovers Wednesday that not fumbled and we have forced a fumble had the pick.

6, 2, were doing that.

So I think we're you know, 56 in the nation right now in terms of turnover margin.

And that's one of the huge factors were for now.

>> Because a great against the run defensively.

I mean, not a lot of team over a 100 yards.

They didn't seem to try to run a whole lot.

They threw my goodness Coca through what 43 passes in this game is that kind of one of those adjustments.

You're talking about that.

>> A little something that the different.

Yeah, I think so.

I think, you know, it's kind of interesting game.

They only have the quarterback hand the ball off to the running backs 4 times the entire game.

You know this tradition which used to seeing.

And so the combination of some of the Wildcats.

I thought we did a good job stopping like a lot of the Wildcat runs, then things are doing that.

You know, they were smart to what they protect the quarterback weather was, you know, Max protections trying to take a shot down the field or they spread out a lot of 2 quick lot screens to, you know, so trying to, you know, a smart take away some of the streets we have with our defensive line.

I think that was probably their game plan had none at all that they feel like they can maybe go toe to toe with a traditional run game right at us.

And so we had to kind of adjust some things that they were doing that was different.

>> We ran very well.

As you mentioned, 232 yards on the ground to Rick Reed leads Grande Valley 140 yards, 3 scores.

He's over 8 yards.

A carry it through the air.

Interesting to watch Jalen Tillman.

Nice Game 5 grabs 99 yards, 50 yard, touchdown reception for him.

Kind of a breakout moment for him.

>> Yet played really.

Well.

You know, I think that 3rd down were you know, we kind of let him just threw it up there knows there are some coverage there.

But he made a play in a move seen that a lot out of, you know, Johnnie Walker.

So if you have your 2 guys both on the outside.

You know, you can always roll coverage.

We saw Wayne state will some coverage Johnnie Walker.

And so having a gun.

The opposite side that you need to take a deeper.

He also does a great job with some out cutting routes.

You know, threw the ball well to the field in jail until was on the positive end of those things too.

But another big body receiver.

That's also a sophomore.

Both guys have 3 years of eligibility and take those 2 guys working outside.

I think the thing we want to try to do is try to find ways for some of the inside guys to get going to, you know, whether it's a Cody tear to your account, not or Darryl Johnson and look for some opportunities for those guys to.

But we have those 2 guys on the outside playing like it is hard for Cade cow that not to look at them.

>> One note in this game by with a rushing attack.

We should point out check for venture goes over a 1000 yards in his Lakers.

>> Yeah.

We give we special notice that locker room after the game.

Really great moment, you know, super senior this is 6 fall.

And you know, some of these guys have a lot of respect for most covid of release.

You know, endured a lot of ups and downs and for him to get that that 1000 yards, especially being from the side.

The state from Eisenhower high school.

You know, can do that for a really big crowd.

Yeah.

That was the one other thing I think that was really awesome.

Our men's basketball team came there to support us.

We had a great crowd.

I had some fans text me.

They couldn't sit on the visitor sides.

They have said in the home side.

So that was great to have a lot of ground support.

We really felt that we came out to the warm-ups, especially after the game.

>> As mentioned Grande Valley for all this is the first of the 2 meetings with Wayne states later in the year.

You'll see him again.

That sets up battle of the valleys this week.

7 o'clock kick in Allendale Saginaw Valley coming there for know your for all.

>> As big rivalry game.

Yeah, the game, you know, I think for a lot of reasons.

I mean, it's our first black game want to point that out.

Now, when we play its way was not conferences are firstly came and clearly like we are striving to try to win ugly a championship.

And so you have, you know, was only 6 of those games.

You have to make sure get off to a great start.

That Web site was much improved from last season.

They've added some different players and different pieces on both sides of the ball.

And I think the thing, too, is, you know, this will be our 3rd game against a top 5 opponent the last 5 games not top 5.

A top 25 opponent.

Yeah.

So a 3rd break up over the last 5 games.

You know.

So I'm really hoping that some of our early experiences against the Colorado School of mines are called a state problem will help us in these moments because this is, you know, a top 25 team that's coming in to replace.

It could be a lot of the line here and not just in terms of just the conference standings, the top 25 team continue to try to find a way to get 5 in.

Keep a lot of things live for football team but also against an in-state rival.

It's very intense and a lot a lot, a lot of players on both sides of all know each other.

>> Briefly within the region.

Some big news Pueblo losing it mines and Northwest Missouri state lost.

>> You already start to see some shakeup in the idabel, which is in a region.

There's only one undefeated team.

Same thing with the great American Conference is only one undefeated team.

So some things even 3 to 4 weeks in a really start to shake out.

There's a lot of football left to play and obviously a lot of football left playing the black.

>> Yeah, just going to be fun.

7 o'clock kick their Grand Valley welcoming in Saginaw Valley.

Thank you much.

>> Thank you.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State sports report continues and W G V [MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] the Grand Valley women's golf team returned home for the 13th annual Guild is club Laker fall invite at the Meadows golf course as of this taping and after 18 holes of play, the Lakers were tied for 3rd place and 2 individuals in the top 10 going into today's final round.

The first 18, the Lakers of car to 3.

Oh, 6.18 over par Paul of the Dino headed in the day tied for 6th place.

>> After round one carding a 74 with 2 birdies.

Megan meera found her way into the top 10 tied for 9th shooting 75 after birdie 2 holes.

Olivia store birdie 8 1418 to finish 77 tied for 18th heading into Monday.

But Julius and just tied for 39th very 2 holes to shoot a first round of 8.

The Laker team is back in action today at the medals golf course as they wrap up the deal, the club Invitational be sure to head the TV issue Lakers dot com for the recap.

How the Lakers would finish for mail theft.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Well, the homestand continued for women soccer as Grand Valley.

Welcome to glee.

Actor leader in northern Michigan and Michigan Tech to Allendale head coach Katie whole team is back.

Talk more about those Laker wins and joining her today after back to back scoring efforts as junior Taylor read he in the Taylor.

Great to have you is very nice weekend close game soccer often that way.

But kind of talk.

Talk to me about the weekend coach will start with you.

You have the showdown with northern you said last week, maybe the biggest one of the regular season so far.

What if we feel like now.

>> I it was the biggest one of the regular season.

And I think our team really showed up on Friday night.

A pretty certain that was the best soccer.

We've played both on and off of all defensively and in the attack in we found a way to get to hold that to win.

I guess we won in the last couple minutes.

Right.

But it was.

>> It's exciting to say the least.

Absolutely to want to get this win.

Taylor.

You got the first goal committee beard and with the assist Kennedy would get the second goal.

The decisive goal at the 88th minute.

What's that like for you guys as players when you know there's no overtime.

Are you taking a peek at the clock.

>> Yeah.

I was about 10 minutes left.

It was pretty stressful.

You get to on the starting to panic in the box a lot in the last 5 minutes trying to scramble to get something because we know that over time and which we get the win.

>> Yeah.

18 to 65 got the right shots advantage.

But, you know, northern very difficult doesn't mean you're always going to get great looks.

But you get this victory which put you now into first place in the conference and that has to feel good, right.

Haha Michigan Tech was the next opponent here.

All right.

And again, you know, I know you guys don't look at records.

Everybody's got to play tough and they did one middle.

You're able to get the win here.

>> Yeah.

It was true.

Sunday soccer, not the prettiest of soccer.

And I would say Tech had a very good game plan against us.

Very, very defensive.

They sat in really deep had 5 in the back and just built a wall basically.

And once we scored actually really loosen up the game a little bit and they started to have to press out.

But it was tough because they're just they were so defensive.

>> Tell me more about that coach because, you know, like basketball, though, have a strategy of a diamond and wonder where I go into an literally shadow will play or wherever they go to soccer do that too.

>> Yeah.

I mean, I think every every team's going to have a different game plan.

Every game.

Their next game plan was very defensive oriented rather than attack.

So we may ask out of them and we scouted that they were going to do a, B and C, but they did Deanna haha.

So, yeah, they they sat in a typically play like 3 or 4 in the back.

They played 5 in the back.

So it was just us.

>> Wall and.

>> Trying to get through it.

Taylor was working very hard with our staff to try to get through.

And it's tough at a really good game plan.

>> 17 to 6 the shot advantage for you guys in this match.

You want to win it.

One nil Taylor you get this, your 6th goal of the year.

So it's that you're trying to slog through the, you know, their defense in the 1st half scoreless 2nd half.

You're able to get that right.

Fairly early 2nd half.

And so you're saying things change.

How does a change for them has a change for you at that point.

>> One of the feeling today.

Well, first of all, they said the girl and they're like, all right.

We're going forward.

So I was like, OK, there.

I told her out to that actually suppose like Steph, is she called Forza instead of sitting back in the 5 AK.

But no, I actually was I think in the attack almost a little bit easier because opened things up.

However, they had more pressure.

So we were so use of like kind of plane called in the back in like to smooth the boss which each side to side, but then they're pressing.

So now we have to transition our minds to play a little bit quicker.

Little bit faster to try to move the ball forward.

>> And you guys getting the win and the overall record record now 7, 1, 2, 5, '01, 1, within conference play.

And so let's talk briefly about that report coming up this Friday, 7 o'clock the of the kick.

There's you're going to continue at home.

>> Yeah.

We've got to finish this little five-game homestand.

It's always fun to play under the lights are excited for that.

And like everyone else to Davenport skin come out to them still aren't.

Yeah.

And I'm excited for the game.

Anytime gets planted the lights at home.

It's it's a special game.

So we've got to finish this.

This five-game homestand really strong and finishes 1st half of conference play, Sean.

So Devon port will be the last conference opponent before we recycle at all.

>> Friday at 7 for that.

That import 3, 3, 4, overall, a 2, 1, 3, within the conference.

So now some fun stuff questions about the players.

The team.

What you guys like to do as a team off the pitch right coach.

Yeah.

We like to do with how you guys are.

>> You know, we like to honestly go to a lot of other sports games.

I think that's just a big thing.

Like football team play this weekend.

So we had been people over to her house and you say watch them by support them.

Something that I did before season.

We do like a fun cornhole tournament.

Everyone came over well competed.

So we just try to do like fun.

Things are out of 13 to kind of get the bargaining and their relationships building.

>> Now some of the other sports to the G tracking where it's how fast players go, how many miles they run.

So got to ask, what's the average distance you're going to run in a game.

>> Probably around 8 to 10 miles defense like how much it.

But look at that.

That's the average 8 to 10 miles over the weekend.

It's best part of 20 to 25 miles.

>> My goodness.

What you guys a great weekend.

Obviously congratulations on the first place right now.

It's great to have you to.

Thank you.

All right.

We'll be right back.

Here in the Grand Valley State sports report and WGN.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] It was a busy week for Laker volleyball Grande Valley hosted Davenport before we can trips to Saginaw Valley state and Wayne state here.

Tell us more said coach Jason Johnson coach, thank you, Steve.

Going to be here.

Good to have you as a a lot of games, a lot of matches for you here.

The 3 that we're going to touch on.

You did get to be at home a little bit of the Davenport one before 2 on the road.

Your thoughts on the week as a whole.

>> You know, a little bit of a disappointing week.

I would say, you know, you drop to conference matches being a home on Tuesday was awesome.

I mean, obviously been on the road for 5, 6, weeks in a row and so getting a home match, wonderful crowd, very appreciative of all the athletes who came out to support the volleyball team.

But, you know, kind of ran into a little bit of trouble with our passing, with our ball control on Tuesday against Davenport played well in the first set.

But then just could never really settle in get our offense going sets 2, 3, 4, >> No, it's right goods.

You lose that 3 games to one to do in that opener attack percentage a bit of a problem in this one.

Here's in the attack.

They had the you had a 30 they had 16 >> and they get some blocks up and that their size of the real fun.

Yeah, it is.

They're big physical team.

They played great defense.

But again, as I said with our ball control, if it's on, then were able to run the offense.

We want to run when it when it sought to become very one dimensional.

And once that happens, it becomes a lot easier to defend and I don't think our strengths lie with the U.S. being very dominant with one specific hitter.

We want to be able to spread the ball as much as we can.

>> Well, Kendall Stover, a nice game.

19 kills 7 digs Savannah Thompson, 11 kills 9 digs and Emily Holbrook, 15 digs.

3 aces for you.

Some of the standout.

Yeah.

The jewel performances.

>> Yeah.

I've been really pleased with potential Stover all year.

You know, freshman coming in being asked to be one of our top outsides place.

It's rotations.

We've been getting around in the back.

Are a little bit lately just to give her a little bit of a rest, probably more physically that meant or mentally than physically at this point.

Just breaking down a little bit service II.

But her offense is a spectacular for us all season.

>> So that was the Davenport match.

You go on the road and Saginaw Valley state.

The team got on there and sweep up.

>> I thought our kids a great job of refocusing after the loss of that important to say are ball controls.

Really good.

Allowed us to run the offense.

We want to run exploit the opportunities with the blocking the defense on the other side of the net.

And I felt like we not only pass with serve really well in that match.

>> Grande Valley.

The 3 win in this one.

The Savannah Thompson gets 15 kills 13 digs Sarah white, 12 kills giuliana Primus 10 kills.

You're saying spread that out a little bit.

Yeah.

I think we are most successful when we are able to utilize all of our attackers.

>> You know, I think we have 5 to 6 kids any given time.

They can go off for 10 plus skills.

But you have to have the Balkan torner do that.

I think that was evident Friday night against Saginaw.

When I thought our offense was able to do want to do.

I think we were able to get the ball to multiple of our hitters.

And as you see, we had a lot of success with that.

>> Yeah, that's right.

3 in that match against Saginaw Valley.

So that would be the final match coming up that it Wiens stay up.

So you're in Detroit, the slick football to is early in the afternoon.

They get you 3.

Let's credit Wayne state.

They played well and I'll say it for you.

I think somewhere road where this comes in the district.

I'm sure I again, I'm sure some of it sets.

And you know, you're 5 weeks in a row on the road again.

>> 5 matches in 9 days.

This past week.

It definitely is going to take a toll.

But, you know, it's not an excuse that our kids are able to use because we knew going in.

This is what our schedule was going to be.

We knew that the conference is going to be very deep this year as far as talent.

Who's going to be good.

And that is, you know, a proven its way out and had a lot of different teams win in different matches throughout the last 3 weeks, a conference play.

So yeah, I'm sure played a little bit of a role in it.

But as I told her team after the match.

When you're when you're trying to achieve something great.

The focus has to be there every single bite.

Yeah.

I don't know if I felt like we have the right focus walking into that match.

>> But I will also say to that, I think Wayne state did an incredible job of putting a lot of pressure on our passing a man as I alluded to earlier, we can't run the offense.

We're looking to run.

It puts us under a lot of pressure to be able to find ways to be successful.

>> Yeah, drilling down a little bit more of that, that it's that serve receive.

And really we're seeing with the past.

Yeah, yeah.

It's it's you know, our serve receive versus another team serving.

>> And if they're able to put a lot of pressure on us in our kids are not able to get comfortable, be able to get the ball close enough to the net where we are able to utilize all of our hitters.

Then you become a little more one-dimensional, as I said earlier, and I think that's where really what happening.

It's Wednesday.

Probably not.

One of our better passing performances.

I felt like our kids were working hard, but just never got into a rhythm or flow in the match.

>> So Grande Valley with the loss at Wayne state, 10 5 overall 4, 3, within the glee actually be back at home is Wisconsin Parkside coming up on a Friday and then produced Northwest on Saturday.

The match on Friday at 7 o'clock and then we get against Purdue on Saturday afternoon.

It will be a 4 o'clock.

Yes.

>> Yes.

Super excited about being at home.

Again.

We have the match on Tuesday.

But this will be the first weekend.

We've been home all year excited for the extended time as far as being home for a whole weekend, but also the extended practice time.

We're not traveling on a Thursday.

So we have a little more time to be in the gym with our kids.

A few things.

Obviously we need to work on to get better for Friday night match, but looking forward to getting back to work today and see what we can do on Friday.

Yeah.

Just the mental break of knowing you don't have to hope so.

Yes, you it is.

I mean, I you know, we talk about it in the in the gym with our kids every week.

But even at home, it's like I get home on Sunday.

My routine has been do my laundry pack for the following Thursday, right.

As you just knew it was coming.

Every Thursday are getting back on the bus to go somewhere.

So no, it is nice to know that we're going to be home for a couple of matches this weekend know that our kids can sleep in their own beds.

Hopefully get into a good rhythm on our own court.

>> And that travel pattern will kind of flip in your favor.

Hopefully later.

>> Yeah.

I mean, we still have some trips coming up.

But definitely late in the year we're going to be home or which I I hope will help us as we move through October into November.

>> Jason, great to have you.

Best of luck here with that thanks to this.

We appreciate it.

Well, don't go away.

The Grand Valley.

State sports report will return in a moment.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> But angle angles angle.

Yeah, yeah.

Sometimes friendships materialize from people you the next door and other times it's a bit more complicated.

Take the case of Grand Valley soccer standouts Taylor read and mackenzie Jones, though both Missourians.

They came from opposite sides of their state to play in Allendale where their partnership on the field makes it look like they and their families have been hanging out together for decades.

>> It was well, as we come into right.

All committed to that.

And so it was just fun.

And it's like my family is her family and vice versa.

So it's just like, you know, my parents can make it to a game like I still get her parents and my their second parents when.

So it's awesome.

>> But some are teammates.

Get to go home on shorter like we can step.

We have each other or my parents are here for a game her parents are.

And so they communicate long.

So it's nice like always have somebody from home.

>> In the room together, which is nice.

Mckenzie Jones cracked.

The starting line up early on for former coach Jeff hostler her spot on the field has evolved under Katie whole team quicker quick Arkansans took over this year as Mackenzie's learn the finer points of being a holding or defensive midfielder her 2 goals against Purdue Northwest recently showed you is ready to join the attack and become a complete box.

The box threat.

>> Sunday was a great learning point for all of our sentiments.

Just because we we knew we could trust or center backs and be like we kind of worked on the rotation of if I do see an opportunity to go up.

One of the attacking minutes holds for me.

So I just kind of an opportunity to try it out.

Since I have so much faith in our center backs and outside backs.

>> Kelly Jones has a shot.

She can.

She can finish.

We wandering around the boxes much as we can get her there as long as we can take care of a defensive balance will be great.

>> And while Jones.

His role has a bit more definition Taylor read as a player who's likely to pop up anywhere and wherever she goes, things tend to happen.

>> We moved around quite a bit in the last few games and she is pretty unstoppable.

>> And probably one of the hardest workers we have on on the pitch wherever she is whether she's playing target for out why she's covering well over 10 piles a game which isn't real.

>> And she's just she doesn't stop.

She's an engine.

And right now Taylor is one of the conductors in a Grand Valley attack that is moved and seamlessly through a 3rd head coach in 3 years, often in sports, coaching changes can decimate a college roster but Jones in reeds say they've been sold on their school from the start.

>> Even though there's been 3 coaches changes.

It hasn't really like made me think twice like just another coat, if you can adapt to get better.

And like learn from that coach Greg Smith's.

I never thought about leaving anything like that.

>> Well, Brandon Lee's perennial spot in the Great Lakes conference is now under greater threat than any time before in the last decade, Katie whole team is confident Hearst watch best form is developing quickly and may be just around the corner.

And while she's looking for all her players to show the ability that brought them to her program or 2 players from the show me state of Missouri again to Jones and Taylor read are showing plenty already.

The Grand Valley State sports report.

I'm Tom cleared.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Well, that's all the time that we have this week here on the Grand Valley State sports report TV issue football will host the Battle of alleys.

The Saturday against Saginaw Valley State University kickoff from lover stadium between the 2 undefeated teams is set for 07:00PM.

CBS.

You women soccer will take on Davenport this Friday in Allendale game time is set for 07:00PM from the judicial soccer field GSU volleyball returns home this week as they take on Parkside Friday, September 30th at 07:00PM, then they'll battle Purdue Northwest on Saturday.

October 1st at 4 o'clock in the jea issue.

Fieldhouse arena TV issue men's golf will participate in the folds of honor Invitational this week.

The tournament takes place in grand Haven as the Lakers take on Division.

One competition from around the country for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program.

>> Is a genius.

You Lakers dot com for more of this show head over to our youtube channel at youtube.

Dot com WGVU 35, make sure you hit the subscribe button to get updated videos and highlights all your lawn for the entire crew here WGVU.

I'm Steve Boyd.

Jones.

Have a great week.

Laker nation.

And as always, anchor out.

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