>> Welcome back to an all-new episode of the Grand Valley State.

Sports reported wg Vu.

I'm your host Stephen Lloyd joins the bsu football wraps up the regular season with Ugly Act.

Championship GB issue women soccer dances through the Midwest Regional semifinals with it.

Wicker volleyball season comes to a close as they finished as runner-up in the gliac tournament and also highlight TV issue men's and women's basketball as they both start the regular season locking in Laker Nation as the Grand Valley State Sports report starts right now.

>> Number one ranked GB issue traveled across town for a date with the number 18 th-ranked Davenport Panthers.

On Saturday.

Baker Football would go on to capture the outbreak.

Lee a championship.

49 to 7 and record the 10th undefeated regular season.

The Grand Valley Football History.

Head man.

Matt Mitchell is here to tell us more about it.

Mitch, welcome.

Thanks.

Congratulations.

We kind of talked about a little bit last week with a part of the conference but jurors outright.

>> Yeah, it's awesome feeling for players and they've really worked hard, I think, to earn an outright conference championship.

And, you know, the path has not been easy, not just for the conference championship, but for an undefeated regular season.

You know, we we played 5 ranked opponents.

If you look at the playoff field, we played for playoff opponents in terms of a guy, you know, teams that got in 3 of those 5 ranked teams are on the road.

And so really, really tough schedule.

I think it's a pretty big accomplishment to go 11 0.

So we're going to really reflect upon that because we are bounce football team.

We finish number one in the nation in scoring defense number 6 in the nation scoring offense.

The only team in division 2 to be in the top 10 in both those categories.

So the right to have a conference championship by this kind of, you know, take up, take a week to reflect reload.

Get ready to go again.

That's right.

We're going to the playoffs here in just a moment.

But >> you're right.

Great.

Great offense.

Great defense.

And Saturday special teams may be the biggest of of the 3 face.

>> Yeah.

Obviously 1st half to get 14 points off.

Special teams is really unique.

That's how the score gets to 40 to nothing at halftime as you have those quick score.

So yeah, I thought, you know, we did a great job in the game planning process and kids really believe in a bind into what we're going to do, saw some things on tape that I think we're able to kind of take advantage of and get even, you know, with a blocked punt for the touchdown.

Also the blocked field goal for the touchdown.

But we have some really good field position to the opening kickoff return.

Cal not does a good job.

Getting it out to the 40 comedy good job catching some Ponce, not let them hit in a pun teams won the field position.

So even beyond those 2 big plays, we scored.

>> There's some other pivotal place really set us up for good field position for both offense and defense.

Yet researcher partner 3 points over 45 yards, a punt all 3 inside the 21 of them one inside the want.

Yeah, the loss of a trickle.

All right.

So this game, you know, you're you're playing for a lot here outright conference title.

You want that number one seed in the bye that comes with it.

And again, it looks it really was all 3 phases, kind of building on each other.

You can score with the offense or defense would shut them down.

Special teams would such a purr or get points and just kind of like building blocks throughout the game and it never really was about.

>> Yeah, I think the game is kind of indicative in the 1st half of our season.

I don't know that there's any one specific star.

A lot of guys chipped in on all 3 phases about the Peterson played extremely well, you know, are offensive starters because of the quick scores, especially enjoy played 37 place of the entire contest for the average over 60 typically.

So not a lot of work, but we take a look at Kate stat line firmly.

37 plays very impressive.

You know, probably one of the biggest games, too, but biggest plays a game from off its perspective.

We're backed up.

It's a 3rd, I think like 16 or something like that in jail until he gets by the defense, I think throws one of the best boss Eastern, all your down the sideline for based almost a 90 yard touchdown.

And so he does that.

He pulls one scores.

Avery Moore was explosive in the run game.

Tree Creed scores a touchdown.

Explosive in the run.

Game 2 is 2 touchdowns actually.

But his second score is another explosive play on the run.

So good to get some of those plays.

That was kind of a step.

Johnnie Walker back to maybe one catch on the sideline.

But he also blocked extremely well as a lot of our wide receiver.

So really get there.

And, you know, defensively, we didn't give up like supposed to pass plays.

I thought our secondary played really well.

Nice here for Queen Place.

Really get us about a quarter and we're able to get enough pressure on the quarterback to kind of keep him off balance a bit.

So just like you said, you know, really a team effort which has been kind of calling card of this team entire year.

Yeah, absolutely.

A pass breakup kind of game, right?

And that is a really legit there.

But.

>> Yeah, great defensive effort.

Offense was efficient.

Special teams explosive at times in this one as you down Davenport.

49 7 postseason, which is, of course as part of your goals every year.

But that conference title is number one seed.

Got that.

You have a bye this week.

The number one seed will talk about the point a moment.

But right now, how do you handle by we can do you know, like I'm in the regular season?

Is this a good time here?

>> I think so.

Just based on kind of where we're out there, health, you know, you get towards play 11 games, the schedule we've had.

We've got some guys that are hopefully we can get back to the bin out and then also maybe some guy just some Saturday little dinged up to maybe try to use that week.

So it's a balance of try to rest a little bit.

But we're also going to get back to work like we're going to practice on Tuesday and Thursday and really hone in on some fundamentals were going to want someone to try to keep a really competitive.

You don't lose the edge.

We've had a meeting since that week.

7 game.

We want to be fair us to take a look at the margins of victory is now with the plan has been really consistent.

You know, there's some of that.

But you do want to reward the guys for the regular season.

So they'll be a bounce.

What we do.

I got a couple guest speakers coming in to take advantage of some opportunity time it can to try to educate and with our guys and then the I think one of the biggest things.

Why do Saturday?

Everybody is out of the building on Saturday.

Set back on your couch, watching college football.

The kids will get an opportunity that the season and you know, also forgot who are going to place or to get to work on that opponent on Sunday.

>> The trucks may be a long weekend for coaches and players.

Yes, so is it sets up and super region.

Number 3, the number one seed in the by the 4, 5, matchup watched Baptist in northwest Missouri state.

So talk about that a bit.

Obviously you have to see who wins that.

But that is going to be the opponent, the winner of that game.

>> Yeah, we'll be watching the game obviously on Saturday.

You know that.

I think it's going to be a great football game.

Both opponents come from great conferences.

Watched was an outright champion in the Great American Conference.

Let her know that an all American tailback and T J Cole really hang their hat on the ball.

A northwest Missouri state I think is making their 20th straight playoff appearance ton of picks, you know, kind of like Grand Valley, a very strong program tradition history.

I'm really played better towards the last half of the season and always led by their defense.

The defense is always really, really strong.

You kind of see the way that their piece anything together.

So be interesting matchup there.

And, you know, we want to go pick sides on it.

I think we you know, we end up because of the way things work will get the tape in both points.

This week's our coaches spent some time breaking both down and then yet once we know the result on Saturday will come in on Sunday, but we'll start to get to work the game plan, try to put our players in the best chance to succeed, but really happy that with the number one C will be hosting thought the course of the regional play.

And I think that's really key that we'll be able to sleep in our beds and really be in front on fans to.

Yeah, that's trips this year.

Couple flights.

Long bus rides.

>> Yeah.

What about the guys?

What's what's the vibe?

Obviously not satisfied.

But but yet, you know, you've accomplished things.

>> You no doubt.

I mean that the current set up a lot of confidence, which is deserved to know based on what is happens.

There's a lot of confidence also, you know, where there's still some things on Saturday that we can going to watch tape.

And so we have to remain humble.

I mean, this is a this is a loaded super region just the way to vision to kind of works.

But I mean, we have the base of the top 4 seeds to undefeated 300 feet with Grande Valley and then for state as the one loss of the high street.

The schedule mean, you can make argument these 4 teams could be the number one seed of any region.

And so it's really loaded when you take a look at it.

So they get that they understand the challenges in front of them.

It doesn't we don't have to look too far ahead.

I think the biggest advantage is, you know, that that we are able to cut the field almost in half week, one without playing.

And so there's an advantage that was appreciative that.

But obviously when we get to the point where there's a, you know, 16 teams left, you're trying to fight scratch and claw that Saturday, Thanksgiving weekend to be one of 8.

That's all that really matters to look forward and look at the bracket.

Just really focus on that game.

>> Yeah, that's right.

No style points not to worry about the Press writers Committee or something.

It's when advance.

Right.

Congratulations again.

Will be fun to watch you guys as you go.

Thanks for stopping an OK, thank you.

Stay with us.

Here in the Grand Valley State Sports report will be back in a moment.

>> PSU men's basketball split their opening weekend of the 2022 to 23 season at the Robert Garrett crossover classic in Nashville.

On Friday, the Grand Valley State men's basketball team dropped its season opener.

85 82 that Southwest Baptist Trojan Field House with power.

But the way for the Lakers with points points, however, with 5 of 7 from the field, perfect 3 of 3 Mark 3 pointers.

All in all, 4 Lakers scored in double figures.

Yeah.

You Keely put up 13 points and both today to Kingsley a condo and Morris presume this had 12 points on Saturday.

The team clinched the first win of the Cornell Mann era.

With 82 to 55 victory against protective mask.

4 different Lakers scored 12 or more points to lead Gvs you to the first win in 2022 to 23 campaign provide Gunter led the way scoring 20 points on 7 of 10 shooting night.

He made 6 threes on 9 attempts from deep Morris was it's had a strong night off the bench, scoring 18 points, grabbing 5 rebounds and blocking 2 shots.

The Lakers return to action at 07:00PM on Wednesday against Findlay in Findlay, Ohio.

GSU soccer begin National Tournament action on Sunday with a battle against Maryville in Allendale.

>> Top-seeded Lakers prevailed one nil and will now face Ferris State in the Midwest Regional Championship next weekend.

Here with me now is glee at Coach of the year.

Katie Hope teen and senior student athlete Kennedy Beard could have you both going to be here.

So you what?

You had the by just one game.

I mean, one game a week as a as it happened on the other point in the year.

>> When we play Davenport, it was always a single game weekend.

But this was nice.

Our opponent had to play 2 games and we had to play one.

It was kind of a weird rhythm of the week, a lot of practicing.

But but I think physically it was pretty nice.

>> Yes, we get the chance to rest physically or at least not exert as much.

But how do you stay sharp, mentally gameplan competitive edge?

How do you do that?

>> Yeah, for us.

I mean, we still practice every day throughout the weekend.

Kind of just went into every single practice, knowing like, hey, we've got to stay on top of things.

We need to be coming in sharp every training session and just kind of encourage you to each other throughout the weekend.

Just like.

>> Keeping our goal in mind.

Yeah, no, it's great to play Maryville.

You've seen them before.

How much does that help you in a setting like this?

>> I mean, I think we we play them in the first weekend of the season and we've gotten better over the last couple months.

And so they so it was nice because we knew personnel.

But I think they were totally different team than we played a couple months ago.

And I I'm pretty sure we were too that when you say that what you mean like what a faster margret, more dynamic, that's a more dynamic played together.

You know, they clearly had a good game plan, but I would say that they probably could say the same thing about us.

Just a, you know, we're a little bit more cohesive and and how to a good game plan going in.

And you guys are aggressive early in this one.

It's it's a one nil win.

So it's not you know, you don't get the 5, 0, so you but you get the win in the 1st half and then.

>> It's kind of like previous ones.

You better recently where you can kind of see that strategy of the opponent change a little bit.

Don't you come after you?

>> Yeah, I mean, they they didn't have a choice but to come out for us.

I think we we score double Kennedy scored at all or that that got taken away.

But I think we have we still have the run of play for the most part, but the one-goal lead.

It just feels like Garner a little bit more pressure anytime they get and our defensive 3rd.

But for the most part I felt like with Rob.

>> Sometimes coach not talk about how soccer is unfair.

Light you a live shot still going.

Does that bug you as a player?

You guys getting shots and that's off the crossbar.

You know, whatever it is that how do you get moved past that?

>> I'm so yeah, I mean, it's frustrating, but it's the game that how it works.

And, you know, the biggest thing is just looking to each other and say, hey, next, one next one.

And just knowing like you can't be stuck in the moment and be in your head because that's the worst thing you can do yourself.

So as long as we have each other's backs and stuff, we're just looking to each other and our coaching staff and it will be fun to move on.

>> But Hillary gets the goal in this one to you guys have a rivalry going on the Gulf Coast.

>> Here's one of my best friends.

And you know, it's great.

I had a couple people ask me that.

But we're always just trying to assist each other like if Taylor's open plain Taylor, if I'm open Taylor's playing me and we just encourage each other to keep going.

I mean, every game like you're going to score, she's like you're going to score and we just have a good.

It's not really at all.

I mean, yeah, it's competitive, but we love each other.

And we're just looking out for each other.

And we just want to do what's best for the team.

So we're not really thinking about that much, OK?

>> You know, in the season that's kind of a grind.

Got a bunch of games scheduled.

This is one and done, you know, to get to the stage of the year.

The tough mindset.

But haha sinks and all that.

>> Yeah, I mean for us.

I mean, even before the game yesterday, we looked at each other and said this isn't going to last time like this isn't going to last time we step on the field together.

And I think it just comes down to heart and play with everything you have in knowing that it could be your last game.

And I think that's what motivates us to be better and just not let our season be over.

>> Well, and then this ratchets up another level because now it's fair state.

The mid-state is we're going to play.

We're not even sure quite how to get there.

You know, try to imagine.

But the plan, again, a rival in a setting like this.

Very special.

>> Yeah.

4th time of the year at a neutral site which should be should be nice again.

I feel like we're we're on the rise.

We're getting better.

Not just soccer wise but mentality wise.

We said the other day we play so well with more light and having fun and we take the pressure off so hopefully we can go in and do the same thing against tariffs on Friday and play Leighton Square single.

>> You'll have some travel this week.

Those details being ironed out.

But how do you how do you set up the week the schedule of what you're going to do?

I do things.

>> You know, at this point in time in the season, it's kind of in and out.

There's not a whole lot more coaching to be done right is just kind of making sure we're staying sharp.

So we'll try to have us normal the rhythm as we can with a little bit of travel.

And, you know, if that means it's a jog instruction, shot of a training, maybe that's what it is.

But they're ready.

They're ready for anything.

So I think, you know, we'll do our best to keep a normal rhythm.

But again, not a whole lot more needs to be done with the X's and O's.

Now, it's just like I said mentality and and just the will to win.

>> Yeah, because it is one of the better players certainly and a senior your leader.

And so people are watching you.

They're taking cues.

How how does that affect you as a player when you know, you've got to kind of set the tone?

>> Yeah, I mean, honestly, I've I've had a lot of experience.

I've learned a lot from the people before me as well.

And I kind of just know in these moments you can't really let them see you sweat.

And I'm just really looking to encourage my teammates and tell them like, give them positive affirmation and just know that like this isn't this isn't going to be that of our season in.

I don't really look at it as like pressure.

If anything.

I think I look at it as like a blessing and honestly to have my teammates look up to me is like really cool.

So I don't really think about it too much just knowing that, you know, trying to give them the positive affirmation and get myself as well and just keep going for it.

>> That is so key how you guys to talk to both talking about pressure handling that.

But having fun, he do that.

Coach, how do you how do you focus on the fun?

And you know, we.

>> We started talking about pressure in week, one at of the season.

And just, you know, we sort of embraced it.

And no, that's a part of it's a part of our sports, a part of this program.

But you have to use it in the way that you need to use it.

So some of us love pressure and some of us don't.

So just being self-aware enough to know that we try to do stuff that makes makes the game fun.

We play with life-like.

Just try to keep it light.

I think the sport is fun.

And then the team all together, it makes it even better.

>> Well, thanks for coming in.

Obviously.

Best of luck as you move forward.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So thank you.

We'll be right back.

As the Grand Valley State Sports report continues here.

The Grand Valley women's basketball team opened their season with a bang on Friday.

The Lakers travel down the St. Louis for a matchup with Missouri St. Louis and came away with a dominant 81 55 victory which they never trailed at any point in the game.

Emily Spitz Lee led the Lakers with 12 points on 5 of 8 shooting.

>> Also grabbing 5 rebounds.

Just one Brennan added 11 points.

While Hanna coolest had 10 points and 4 boards, Ali dressed, he had 9 points and 3 assists and the call came in had 8 points in the first game as a Laker.

The team completed the weekend sweep in Missouri is the follow up the victory overall muscle with a 21 point win against Maryville.

Grand Valley used a big 4th quarter to pull away from the Saints and come away with a 78 57 win.

Emily Spitz Lee once again lead the Lakers in scoring and she poured in 16 points and added a team high 7 rebounds.

Grande Valley returns home next Friday and Saturday to play Tiffany and Finley in the opening weekend of home basketball.

>> Well, we called for nothing less than winning the gliac tournament for GPS, U Volleyball and almost hit a daunting task of road matchups with Davenport, Northern Michigan and Ferris State.

So the Lakers win to 5 set matches and fall 3 games to 2 in the Gliac tournament final.

Let's bring him head coach Jason Johnson to tell us more about that coach.

Welcome.

Thank you.

So the season comes to an end.

But what a week you knew what was in front of you and for the team resiliency, grit for its yeah, he almost got there.

We did.

We did.

You know there.

There's a lot of positives that came out of this past week.

>> You know, going on the road, winning a Davenport who they've got a really good job against us last last couple years and then same thing with northern Michigan having to go to Paris and play against them in the semifinals and 16, 14 in a $0.5 law or when to them got out of the gym really late that night.

The match before us ran along.

We ran long obviously and then turn back around and have to play for us on Saturday at their place.

You know, the kind of an ugly start to the match.

I don't think our kids emotionally even physically were fully ready to go.

It took them a while to warm up.

But again, it goes back to that grittiness and that resiliency to keep pushing.

And we got ourselves all the way to the 5th set.

And even in the 5th set, I think we're down 14, 11 and they're kind of sitting on the bench and you're like, OK, is this how it's going?

And, you know, we're a great run.

But where we at 3 points in a row, we tied up at 14, extended all the way up to 17, all and then 2.0 by now.

I think we're I think we had the lead 17, 16 just couldn't find another point at that point.

>> So I mean, different different stages along the week for you.

But let's go to that.

That last match there with Ferris.

They get the first 2 sets up.

What what is the mood with with the team water use at right there with with the talk?

>> Well, for the last couple weeks, even in the season, we had a lot of conversation just about they're finding a flow within the match.

You know, sometimes it's ugly, sometimes pretty.

Sometimes it works well and sometimes are you're kind of fighting an uphill battle the whole time.

And that's kind of where we talked about when we last second set to Ferris.

It was the emotion.

The emotional focus was not there.

The the collective togetherness was not there.

When, you know, you could tell the moment became a little big and that daunting task of all, we have to play Ferris and they're on top of us and things aren't going well.

And it's really difficult to say, OK, well, let's embrace that.

But one Saturday time, one point in time to try to break it down into 2 or 3 point segments and see where we can go.

But more than anything, you're just talking to them about finding a way to support each other, find a way to work together and find a way to, you know, find that little bit of a rhythm and flow within within that 3rd set.

>> Well, individually, Jordan Gates, unbelievable week handle Stover was huge.

Sarah White who a good player mean Mitchell.

Jacqui, we go throughout the game.

Certainly a Savannah Thompson, too.

You're talking about after the match with with fares you the impact of the senior leadership know that it's they help set the tone and really >> bring out the best of your team talk.

They did, you know, and it's there were so many different storylines as the season went along.

But I think more importantly, over the last 2, 3, weeks, how they embrace the challenge of pushing this team are pulling this team to the finish line no matter what it looked like.

You know, we talk a little bit about the change we made the Met in the middle against northern Michigan at our place with Madame Okay for Joanna premise and the support both of them had for one another.

Regardless of who win over those 2 weeks, really kind of solidified how the team is going to support each other and you win, you lose a starting spot.

You can go, you know, and you're pretty dark place and saying on checking out, I'm not going to be there.

And Jay didn't do that.

She continued to support Maddy through this whole thing.

Every opportunity she got.

And I thought she did a great job through that time.

But it it was a wonderful view of leadership when your seniors can support each other that way, you know.

And then as we moved along, like I said, every senior we had had an impact on what took place over the last couple weeks.

You know, no matter how large or how small they were, the reason we were able to make the run.

We did this past week.

>> The Lakers fall in the gliac tournament championship there against a Ferris.

The overall Mark 1913, in the moments we have left the the off season or does that look like for you and your team and how do you approach that?

>> Yeah, you know, I think we're going to need a little bit in the next couple weeks, talk through everything, but it's it's about recharging.

It's about physically getting our bodies feeling a little bit better, resting getting healthy from that standpoint.

But even even the mental and emotional told that a season takes on you and for our players, it's going to be about just refreshing that way, getting out of the gym for a little bit, making sure they're connecting getting their academics, taking care first and foremost as we move through the rest of the semester.

But then it's spending time with family and friends finding a way to recharge.

And then when we get back in January will put it all back together again and figure out what it's going to look like as we move through the winter Spring training summer and then obviously next August for those coming back.

It's that balancing act of you're proud of the accomplishment in the run, but it should fuel you in the sauce.

Yeah.

You hope that this gave them a glimpse of 2 things, one, what they're capable of.

But to what it takes, you know, I told him after the match that to compete at a level like this day in and day out in our conference and then post conference, whether it's the regional or the the lead a tournament, there's a level of focus both emotionally and physically that has to come into every match.

And I think that was a big learning curve for us throughout the season.

So I hope this week gave them a glimpse into what that looks like and understand that a lot of unfinished business, hopefully that they continue to hold onto his move.

>> Into January, a great ending.

Their know you've got about the bright future ahead with this group.

Jason, thanks for coming down for us every week and good to talk with you.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Well, don't go away.

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

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

Football will rest for the first week of the NCAA playoffs as they received by take on the winner of number 4, which you to Baptist in northwest Missouri State.

>> I Saturday, November 26th at Level Stadium issue.

Women soccer will take time.

Ferris State on Friday.

November 18th, the Midwest Regional Championship.

Local teams are about an hour away from each other.

It usually we'll play this match.

The imaging state and division, Minnesota as the round site is hosted by the highest seed in the central region.

TV issue, women's basketball will open up their home schedule gets tougher coming up on Friday, November 18th at the TV issue.

Fieldhouse every night.

Tip-off in Allendale is slated for 06:00PM and will take on Finley at home on Saturday.

November 19th game.

Time for that one is scheduled for 03:00PM.

Yes, you men's basketball will take on Finley on Wednesday.

November 16th in Ohio.

>> Tipoff is set for 7 there.

The return to Allendale for the first home game of the season against Indianapolis Sunday, November 20th game time from the GSU Fieldhouse Arena set for 02:00PM against the greyhounds for upcoming games as well as live broadcast of every Laker athletic program.

Visit GV issue Lakers dot com.

>> For more of the show head over to our YouTube channel.

YouTube dot com Slash W G 35 make sure you hit the subscribe button to get updated videos and highlights all year long.

The entire crew here at Wgu.

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