>> Welcome back to an all-new episode of the Grand Valley State Sports report and Wgu.

I'm your host Steve Lloyd-Jones.

GSU football continued their dominance streak on the road in Massachusetts.

Laker volleyball's with their weekend set of games.

TV issue.

Women, soccer travel across the Mackinac Bridge repair of games in the up and our future.

This week highlights the Laker men's golf team and their recent success locking in Laker Nation as the Grand Valley State Sports report starts right now.

Laker football travel to the East Coast over the weekend for a matchup with American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Grand Valley made quick work of the Yellow Jackets, winning 45 to 3 to move to 6 and oh on the year here once again said coach Matt Mitchell, Mitch, great to have you.

Thanks.

You guys are putting in the miles, Colorado, not a Massachusetts.

45 3.

Get the win business like and you take care of it.

>> Yeah, I thought we did a great job just in terms of the travel.

Appreciate that.

We're able to charter that.

And we were wheels down less than 24 hours.

So we got there on Friday.

Have you know, great date night Friday night and Saturday.

We got back in the player home.

I think we're all back in in our houses by 09:00PM for a noon start, which is pretty remarkable, sir, really fortune about that.

But no, it was a, you know, a great job on offense.

You know, I thought we were very explosive, obviously, the run game and the pass game, you know, really only put it once.

I kind of had a little bit of a slow start with the 3 and a pun about the rest of the way until we have some backups in the 4th quarter.

Do not put again.

So really good job.

Our offense just in general and scored some points explosive, you know, defensively did a great job, stopping the run of the sides.

One run where we were not in the right spots didn't run the ball at all.

You know, there's some things in the past.

The fence that we wish, you know, could be a little bit better.

And I think probably the biggest thing that we're disappointed in is our 3rd down conversion percentage on defense.

You know, they covered almost 50% of her 3rd downs.

It's got to be better.

So I will give them credit.

I thought the quarterback did a great job.

Mentioned that on tape.

I thought it really live Armstrong arm.

He was a showed up and they had some guys receivers that kind of played we had seen necessarily before and said some skill guys out there.

And so, you know, I think it's a, you know, a good thing that we're able to keep them to 3 points, even though we give up some yards will be in the passing game and get our guys back in on Sunday.

Keeping hungry.

>> Yeah.

In Valley wins at his mansion.

45 3?

The final scores highlights rolling.

You know, it's 681 yards total off for him from 424 yards.

So to recreate again, he really exploded.

10 carries 144 yards.

3 scores.

Great.

Seen Cody tourney.

Second week he gets big explosive plays in the passing game.

Josh Corps Ball comes back in this game of the kicking game.

That's a key element, too.

So >> you had some good storylines going to start saying offensive, obvious it reeks or our bell cow is nice to have him.

It's really, really long runs.

Touchdown runs, which was great to kind of see, you know, and I think, you know, I said we've got some depth.

The receiving corps think it was important.

Daryl Johnson got a couple catches early, which is good.

As you mentioned, Cody Tierney was kind of the hot hand that particular day made a really nice plant, a flag route that he covered up the field and kind out ransom defenders.

I don't think people understand how really fast he is.

He's deceptively fast these very smooth runner.

But his is we have GPS units on the guys and he's one of the fastest players we have on our roster.

And so, you know, I thought our quarterbacks played well, too.

We we made a point of emphasis Caldecott swim practice and really well and he's seriously let let us down to a touchdown drive.

So really good.

I mean, the only thing I think that was, you know, tough offensively as we get the ball back enough, you know, think about almost 700 yards.

And, you know, we we we didn't get them the ball because those 3rd down conversions all the time, you know, and a half probably should have kicked a field goal is trying to stay aggressive on the road and trying to do that.

And I think that but an overall like until the last player, we fumbled the ball again, another turnover free game for the most part.

And that was really critical to.

So I think our offense is playing with a tremendous amount of confidence.

A lot of different guys are getting involved has been, you know, it's been pretty consistent last few weeks yet to that point to some other names here, Jack preventer, 4 carries 95 yards and a score.

He had a really quick scamper there.

78 for a touchdown.

But >> Scott Cooper to catch us.

46 yards on that ladder drive and a half yet.

Other guys like Armani, Marino, he gets 43 yards rushing giante Crawford gets 33.

This guy's just on 4 carries so that they were really productive.

>> Yeah, we have we travel 5 running backs and some of that because the special teams to but all 5 running backs I thought played well and didn't really did some some great things.

And so I think it allowed us to take a little bit of a load off of a Avery Moore.

You know, I think Avers really put a product on tape through 5 games as a running quarterback and to convert a couple.

But, you know, for the most part, I think we're able to get the ball to running backs, can take some pressure off off of him.

I think really need him in that stretch.

The same thing with K Pietersen we did.

He pulled one run, ran it down.

But for the most part we try to keep our quarterbacks pretty clean.

This game pulled more pressure, running backs.

I thought they stepped up.

>> He had some other guys defensively want to touch on that defense.

But to hear a course, it's won.

Sub Legion tackles but the record he has 5 0nd to total tackles around selling kits for in this.

Talk about the guys here for Queen before.

But 3 pass breakups.

He was outstanding.

How about Christmas, Carol?

3 quarterback hurries in this game silently working hard and Jack Rice, he gets 3 quarter backers.

>> Yeah, I think it was.

So you can start with our linebacker positions again.

We have great production of the linebackers, the stv Ron.

So it was injured most of the offseason through the summer and early and come back to last couple of games he played great has to play great insight on Valley to with some injuries.

That position also really good.

We've got dense Williams was back off of injuries and we were able to, you know, we're being cautious them coming off injury.

I think he played like 12 or 15 reps in the game, but he flew around and it's really, really good things.

It was kind of good to have his leadership and his snap back on the field.

That's the guy we think is a potential all-conference nickel for us and has been for for majority the season.

So, you know, get him back in the flow as little bit here, maybe to reach the the really the meat grinder, that ugly act.

Coming up, Mike said, you know, we're rotating those linebackers and guys are playing really well.

That position so.

>> Well, 6 and o, of course, everybody knows what's up next.

That's the battle for the anchor Bone trophy.

Going to Big Rapids.

Ferris State survives Saginaw Valley really had him on the ropes, but credit the Bulldogs.

They win it.

So number one, number 2 right here.

>> Yeah, obviously another big matchup, you know, has that was the seems little bit like a broken record.

But a lot of big implications like it has had.

Obviously there's 3 undefeated teams that black right now and 2 of those 3 will be facing a Saturday at the top Tiger Field.

Big Rapids.

You know, it's a credit, I think to the culture they have in the program.

They have that there are some mistakes they made with some turnovers and some penalties and still found a way to get a really good rob victory on the road.

I think that probably says more about who they are and their program.

Then then take a look at some of the negatives that came out of the game for them.

But yeah, it's you know, first, take a look at their team.

It's a it's a stacked defense.

It's a loaded defense.

There's not really holes and defensively.

I think you can see that statistically one of the top teams in the nation terms or rush defense and they're doing a great job defending the pass, too and get a lot of sacks and just to create a lot of havoc and disruption as a very disruptive defense.

So they have some really good players is not a lot of holes in a defense whatsoever offensively.

You know, the scheme has always been a challenge.

And, you know, they have really good skill players.

And you know, they they tried to get jobs in the skill players, the ball in space weather.

That's a printer runs or passes.

And if you start to overload things in those areas that make you pay for up inside, whether it's designed running backgrounds with a really good quarterback runs, too.

So a really balanced offense that with, you know, really veteran coaching staff that knows how to take advantage of some things defensively.

So, you know, I it's one of those games.

I think a number one, number 2 in the nation to be a lot of eyes on it.

I think our guys really understand, you know what the environments going to be like.

We've obviously been in these virus before, whether it's home or away.

We understand the challenges in front of us real after just it's about us.

It's about our preparation and sounds like a coaching cliche.

But really the week that we have in terms of our preparation and being emotionally ready and not letting things get out of hand attend overly emotional, we have to maintain an emotional balance as we head into the game.

>> That's right.

Looking forward to it.

Number one.

Number 2, thank you much.

Appreciate it.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here in WGN news sitting atop ugly acts, standings Grande Valley, soccer travel to the Upper Peninsula to take on Michigan tack in northern Michigan.

So how did they do?

Well, system coach tomorrow Sun and the Gill and sophomore goalie Kendall Robertson are here.

Tell us more about it.

Welcome to both of you.

Thank you for having us.

So to when over Tech will begin with that highlights to get we'll get into those here.

They didn't have a lot of shots, but you guys eventually warm about to get the win.

Mario, get your thoughts.

>> Wolf, Pack is always a tough thing to play.

Honestly, we we a lot of trouble home with them.

Eventually got the win on going up there.

So on trade, it's, you know, just 4 days away from home.

And and we start that the trip with top game, they're very this a plan.

They're very organized.

They make a really, really tough.

They don't generate a lot of offensive in its early.

But jus they make you work real hard to put the ball in the back of the net and they're very well coached by, you know, 2nd half, we started to get into the rhythm of thanks and eventually were able to score in a corner kick and towards the end of the game when we put the second on the back of the net.

So it was great team effort.

A great commitment by by our players on.

I think that it was housed what we said.

How come?

>> Yeah, absolutely.

Grande Valley wins it to the scores.

You could goals from a table read before that.

McKenzie Jones able to get that her 3rd of the season and the Robertson, your 4th shutout of year, not a lot of shots.

So tell me as a goal.

We feel like having quite a few shots to get more of a rhythm of what's going on or just a few where you have to be ready.

What's what's?

>> It's kind of in between.

It's nice to have a rhythm when you have a few shots.

I mean, obviously you don't want to get hammered and child with shots.

All game long makes a really stressful.

But, you know, it gets a little boring when he could have maybe one or 2 shots on goal.

But you know, your team's doing a really good job if you're not getting any shots.

>> Yes, Grande Valley, the a shot at Pinot's 14 to one including an 11.

Nothing in corner kicks in this.

You get by tech to as you say, Mario, Great 2nd half to and that shot advantage.

A big part of that.

So that would set up may be the key game match, if you will, for the for the weekend.

You're going against northern good team and they get you at home here.

Scoreless draw.

And again, we have to point out there at the overtime rules change this year.

So what what is the feeling?

Coaches players after a draw like that against a good team, but we got to feel like after the game.

>> Well, we know Northern's so competitive this year.

They are a very physical.

Well, coach organize.

They play very interact, but the plea directly, the purpose.

So they are they're just really top.

We've seen them in the rankings are ready nationally.

So people are starting to notice that they are very, very competitive.

And, you know, it was it was tough for us to be the homeless well scored in the last minute, even though they Hot 10 players far more than half of the game.

So we knew it was going to be a bottle.

We knew was going to be a tough game to to, to win on to compete.

I think we need a very good job considering again, that was a long weekend.

It's a big trip for us just to be up there for 4 days.

We committed ourselves to point sticking together and then together, I thought it was a pretty even game.

I there were chances of both sides, both teams bottle real hard.

You know, I don't think it's necessarily and by the sole considering how how competitive northern U.S. this year on and how the game how the game went.

So.

>> Yeah, the shot Advantage.

13, 3 against you can do you get 3 saves in that.

Just able to get a couple of shots on goal.

You know, Ferraro.

She gets one.

Casey Lauer able to get a shot on goal.

But yeah, they a scoreless draw.

So you can guys basically keep your position atop the conference weather wise.

We run into anything.

Interesting up there.

>> Michigan Tech game was a lot colder than northern the police for the sun for the northern game.

Tech got cold when the sun went down.

Definitely definitely for me.

Just kind of standing in place there for a while.

>> A little bit.

It's not the end of the game, you know, on their way there.

We we saw that in the coming down and then toward the end of the game.

And, you know, it's just interesting to see every October just to see some little bit of a snow coming down.

But we we got through it.

>> Yeah, that's right.

Well, the first trip to the up for both of you.

All right.

Let's turn ahead to what you have coming up.

And that will be senior night.

It's Friday.

And Ali, back at home, Saginaw Valley will be the opponent, 7 o'clock kick and then also touch on fair State Sunday at 1 o'clock.

So couple home for you.

>> Yeah, they're they're 2 very good teams as well.

They started the wreath this season ranked the cleanup is just insanely competitive this year.

So every game is about every games.

The new your heart for it.

We excite for senior night to honor our seniors on Friday.

So, you know, it's a very good team.

They also made us work real hard are the place to earn the win.

It was a really close game.

They score a goal to make it 3 to 2 and we have to defend together again and get through that moment together.

So we're very excited about this weekend because those will be our last 2 regular season weekend games home and then ferry assess are vocal opponent.

We have not been able to beat them in the last few games last season.

We couldn't do it the season.

We start with that high as well.

We kicked off our quick play with them against then we get high and so we hope and a home with a hour, the home fans and our home environment and atmosphere that it's been amazing to see some we just really looking forward to to to play them as well and hopefully hopefully get a win.

>> Grand Valley, 9, 1, 3, overall 702 within the gliac and the best of luck here coming up in those games.

Thank you to have you both.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here in Wg volleyball head.

Coach Jason Johnson of the Laker volleyball team had a home match with Ferris State and a road trip to Lake Superior State on the schedule this weekend, Grand Valley would fall to the Bulldogs before regrouping for a win against the other.

Lakers coach Johnson joins me now.

Coach, great to have you.

It's good to be here today.

So great start against first day of you do come Utley fall to them down outstanding game one.

And as you and I talking off air, even in the game to your right there, things started to go away from me a little bit.

But really good start.

>> Yeah, you know, I talk to their team after the match and it's it's that, you know, no moral victory.

Yeah, the speech, but it's it was more one of the talks of there's 2 sides of that match.

And you're happy about the way your kids battled you happy with the way they came out.

You know, I thought we executed the game plan really?

Well, I thought we came with a great focus.

But even you know, we get halfway through set to and we're up, I think was 18, 14.

And I think we had about 5 or 6 hitting years.

We've been there 7 point run at that point.

And it's one thing we've been talking a lot about.

The last few weeks is learning to value the ball in our losses this year are hitting errors in our offensive.

Mistakes are what are costing us points in crucial situations against good teams.

>> So some self-inflicted new.

Very much so.

Yeah.

Well, Jordan Gate Sport where weekend for her 17 kills and this match 20 assists 9 digs Giuliana Primus with 12 kills in the scandal.

Stover at 10 up to get some good production.

>> Yeah, again, we've talked a lot about it.

We have a I think a good offensive.

We get to spread the ball to many different attackers in any one of them can be successful on any given night.

Jordan happen to have a great weekend for us now.

A lot goes through her with running the type of offense.

We do.

She gets an opportunity to hit in the front row.

She sat in the back row.

So a lot of responsibility falls upon her shoulders for our offense to work in both ways as a setter on the court, but also as an attacker to find points worse in the front row.

>> That's right.

So Grand Valley would fall against the Bulldogs.

3 to one of us.

But take game one.

Lose the second 3rd and 4th.

So you have to regroup.

This was a weird weekend by at the schedule is.

Yeah.

I mean, you don't have time to really look at your wounds.

You got to get on a bus ride to the up.

>> Yeah, we this scheduled to go yet this year had some split weekend for a lot of the team.

So this is one of our sport.

Weekends were a home on Saturday and we drove up to Lake State after the match on Saturday to have to play 3 o'clock match yesterday at their place.

Again, kind of like you said, you've got to regroup quickly.

And that was part of the conversation after the match on Ferris.

Was it a little bit of time to say hello to the families and then get out of Boston 5 hours North now we've got a little late but were able to get up and and then get over to the gym to get things going on Sunday.

>> Well, you're spotted really well as highlight show.

You know, Grande Valley wins this match 3 to one.

They would take game 2 of the 4 that you played.

But you commented afterwards.

You you really like the resiliency.

You like the mental toughness, physical toughness.

Your team showed here.

>> I did it in.

You know, I think there could have a new coach this year.

And I think that he's done an incredible job of just instilling a belief of competing at a high level for Lake Superior State.

I felt our kids came in had a little bit of a lag in the first 2 sots from the standpoint of the pressure they put on you with the speed of their offense, the emotion they brought to the game, the service pressure they put us under a little bit.

But then after sets warning to we made a couple of adjustments.

I thought our kids settled in.

But at no point, was there a sense of of panic within those first couple sets?

It was more just trying to get a feel for what's going on.

How do we play against it and then?

>> Start imposing ourselves a little bit more on them as we finish off sets are in poor.

Yeah.

And specifically you liked how your block was effective against their offense and your transition offense was really good.

Help us understand that.

>> Yeah.

And again, it's you know, we made a couple adjustments on where we started our block to try to counter some of the speed of their offense to help our blockers out.

Help get us in a better space.

But conversely, when we do that, you have to make some defensive adjustments in the back row.

2 from that, whether it's the block or the back row defense, you're looking for opportunities for your offense to transition from defense to offense and get yourself some points.

And I thought the first couple sets were really struggling to find those additional opportunities to score points.

But in sets 3, 4, the block became a bigger issue for them and are then our offense was able to get some easier opportunities to get points on the board.

>> All right.

So coming up, a key weekend.

Help us frame this for us here.

It's the crossover.

It's that Midwest, regular season, a regional crossover tournament in him and in the end of this is really important.

>> It is for teams that are looking to get into the NCAA tournament are calm for our region.

I don't know.

Probably 10, 11 years ago started this tournament where all 3 conferences that have representation within the region come together and during those matches, you get a better idea of how to ranked teams within the region.

So it gives a better representation of the top 8 teams to get into the regional tournament at the end of the year.

So there's a lot of weight that sits on this tournament.

You're looking for good matchups.

You're looking to be in that top half of the team's so that you can play other teams that are being considered for regional opportunities.

So, yeah, it's it is there's a lot that weighs on abuts an exciting weekend.

It's one of those weekends to where you're going.

You're rooting for your conference.

You know, you're rooting for other teachers who might might not normally be rooting for.

But you're hoping they do well because then it represent your conference better.

So now when it's looking at opportunities to get teams into the region, you're hoping your conference gets 4 bits and in the better you do with this >> event.

The better the opportunity is for that.

When you get the head to head with somebody about the side of a conference room to time the courts.

All right.

Thank you, Jason.

Appreciate it.

Don't go away.

The Grand Valley State Sports report will return in a moment.

TV issue men's golf has had some high level competition the last 2 weeks and have held their own throughout time.

Cleary has the story for us.

>> Back on September.

26 the Lakers men's golf team teed off in Grand Haven at the first folds of Honor Collegiate event at the newly renovated American Dunes Golf Club.

They're based on the field comprised of division.

One powers including UCL a Arizona and Florida State with a first-round team total of 2.96 that let them near the top of the field.

Only 4 strokes behind eventual champion Illinois Charles.

The long pace Grande Valley with an opening round of 70 and moved to the top of the individual leaderboard.

Midway through the next day at 5 under par.

Surprising a lot more people than on his coach.

>> You know, I recruited a 5, 10, 5.11, skinny kid and now is 6, 2, and pretty built is one of the longest guys now.

And that was I think part of the reason we were able to get him was a lot of coaches at the higher levels, weren't sure if you would have the links to compete at that level.

But he's in for the long enough now.

So he's done a fantastic job here developing.

>> Mental games are really big thing to just getting older and understand you're going to have bad shots and being able to recover from their.

It's not all about playing perfect.

Just about managing your game and getting in the hole in the sphere shots as possible.

>> While the long was making his move, other Lakers were also playing well, Drew Coble fashion consecutive par rounds of 72 to start the event at the Jack Nicklaus Design Course.

Well, Nick Krueger Rice, Wheeler and Charlie Cooley all have rounds during the week that would count towards Grand Valley's 11th place overall finish at the end of 3 days and some of the toughest weather of the fall.

No one was complaining, though, about the experience.

>> Most players don't get these experiences.

So you've got a time slot, everyone.

So I look around and appreciate what you've got.

What you been able to learn from my past 4 years here, grand out.

>> From what I've heard from just the team and other people like we definitely some people that just came out and watched or even locals and couple the schools and parents for very impressed by offs like they didn't know what to expect.

And we held their own with some power 5 schools.

And I think that kind of turns has a little bit.

>> The Folds of Honor event is staged by the organization that provides aid and scholarships to wounded and injured members of the military and first responders as such included America's 3 military academy teams along with 2 squads from historical black colleges and universities.

But only one of the teams that played in the inaugural at American Dunes.

And a second bite of the Apple the very next week Grande Valley.

This time it was a team qualifying event for the 2023 Folds of Honor featuring only 9 division, one schools including Lee University of Tennessee, the reigning Division 2 champion.

When play started at the Meadows, Gary Bissell is team blazed a path no one could match.

Coble was 2 under after 36 holes.

Krueger was tied for second individually at -3.

>> And long put himself out of sight with an opening 68 in the second round.

65, which included an amazing 30 on the front 9 and the final round Krueger 70 lead.

The Lakers while freshman Cooley from Northern Ireland shot even par 71 for the second straight day.

Their team total of 4 under par was good enough for a 21 shot victory and earned them the Lone Division 2 spot and the 2023 event that will be televised on the golf champ.

>> We didn't think we played that long.

We hung in there with some of the power.

5 teams saying that showing our guys like they were right there, we're going to keep pushing and we're trying to become the best team that we can be.

And that may not be far off.

Some of the really good to this one, too.

We're building something really special here.

>> We've just the improvement we've seen over the last 3 years.

We've got the new indoor facility going up.

It's this is going to be a special place for for all athletics, but the office special.

>> And while they spend the next few months streaming out and preparing for the chance to compete in a blue chip division, one field, this'll in his Lakers won't soon forget the 2022 fall season which saw them take 2 other events including one in Ohio and rival Phillies home course where they shot a school record three-round total of 24 under par to defeat many of the top division.

2 teams, the Midwest.

Well, the Grand Valley State Sports report.

I'm Tom.

>> Well, that's all the time that we have this week in the Grand Valley State Sports report.

Issue football will travel north to take on Ferris State in the a curb on classic this Saturday.

October 15th, the battle between the top 2 teams in the country is slated to kick off at 01:00PM TV issue.

Women soccer will host senior night in Allendale on Friday.

We'll take on Saginaw Valley state with kickoff scheduled for 07:00PM.

They'll host rival Ferris State on Sunday.

That game is scheduled for 01:00PM at the TV issue.

Soccer field TV issue.

Volleyball will hit the road to him in Indiana over the weekend for the Midwest Regional crossover turn on Friday and Saturday for more info on the show.

Head over to our YouTube channel at YouTube Dot com Slash Wgu.

35 make sure you hit the subscribe button to get updated videos and highlights all year long with the entire crew here at Wgu.

I'm Steve Lloyd-Jones have a great week Laker Nation and as always Ankara,