UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball team returned home and earned a 3–1 victory over Lake Superior State in GLIAC play Thursday night at Hamilton Gymnasium.

The Cardinals (6-6, 1-2 GLIAC) took the match by set scores of 25-17, 25-15, 24-26, and 25-19.

Rachel Townsend (Oxford, Mich. / Oxford HS) led the way with 14 kills and an ace. Ava Decker (Elkhart, Ind. / Elkhart HS) and Chloe Vanwinkle (Clio, Mich. / Clio HS) added seven kills apiece, with Decker serving three aces and Vanwinkle recording two aces and 11 digs. Ella Lochbiler (Macomb, Mich. / Dakota HS) chipped in five kills and two aces, while Emily Foster (Ferndale, Mich. / Ferndale HS) tallied four kills.

Setter Jackie Scheiber (Wyandotte, Mich. / Riverview Community HS) directed the offense with 34 assists, adding an ace and eight digs. On defense, Elizabeth Bruschuk (Villa Park, Ill. / Willowbrook HS) led the Cardinals with 17 digs and one ace.

As a team, SVSU finished with 49 kills, 13 service aces, and 58 digs, compared to LSSU's 36 kills, three aces, and 53 digs.

Set One (25–17)

The teams traded points early before SVSU pulled away with a 7-2 run highlighted by two kills from Vanwinkle and additional kills from Foster and Townsend. A 3-0 spurt gave the Cardinals set point at 24-15, and after two LSSU points, SVSU secured the first frame.

Set Two (25–15)

The Cardinals controlled the second set from the start, racing out to a 10-1 lead behind aces from Scheiber and Townsend and a block by Kendall Ihm (Owosso, Mich. / Owosso HS) and Cola Sisk (Lake Fenton, Mich. / Lake Fenton HS). A 5-0 run pushed the margin to 16-3 before LSSU attempted a rally. Finley Helm (Mount Pleasant, Mich. / Mount Pleasant HS) provided her first collegiate aces during a late 4-0 run. After the Lakers cut it to 23-15, SVSU closed out the set on a kill from Ruby Earl (Howell, Mich. / Howell HS) and a Laker error. Trista Ameel (Casco, Mich. / Romeo HS) made her Cardinal debut with an assist and a reception.

Set Three (24–26)

SVSU held the edge for much of the third set, but LSSU rallied to tie it 10-10 and used a 3-0 run to take the lead. Townsend and Vanwinkle powered a late push that gave the Cardinals set point at 24-23. However, the Lakers claimed the next three points to win 26-24 and force a fourth set.

Set Four (25–19)

The Cardinals regained momentum with balanced offense and strong serving. Lochbiler delivered three kills and an ace to help SVSU to an 8-4 advantage. After the Lakers trimmed the deficit, a 6-2 Cardinal run pushed the margin to 14-9, highlighted by a block from Ihm and Scheiber. LSSU closed within one at 18-17 before SVSU sealed the match with a 7-2 closing run. Lochbiler and Decker each served an ace down the stretch as the Cardinals secured their first GLIAC win of the season.

Up Next: Saginaw Valley, which has already matched its win total from last season with six, heads on the road for a quick turnaround against Purdue Northwest. First serve is set for 7:00 PM EDT on Friday, September 26, at John Friend Court in Hammond, Ind.