ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Griffon volleyball team (4-2) opened the Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic 1-1, on Friday at GVSU Field House Arena.
 
Missouri Western started the day with a decisive win in the morning match against Saginaw Valley (2-2), securing their fourth consecutive sweep (25-20, 25-9, 25-11). However, they fell to Grand Valley State (7-0) in the evening match, 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-21).
 
MATCH 1: MWSU 3, SVSU 0
Griffon volleyball extended its sweep streak to four games with a dominant win over Saginaw Valley to open the weekend.
 
In the opening set, it took MWSU some time to find its rhythm before securing the lead at the 11th point. They didn't look back after taking control of the match, ultimately winning the set 25-20. Sophomore Holly Heldt performed well, notching four kills and four digs.
 
Western altered the narrative from the opening set with an early 16-2 run and led by as many as 16 points to secure the set, 25-9. The Cardinals struggled, committing nine errors and hitting -.094. In contrast, the Griffons hit an impressive .259, with senior Taylor Russell contributing a set-leading three kills.
 
The momentum from the previous sets carried over to the third and final set. Russell recorded five kills and Nessa Johnson provided 13 assists as MWSU sealed the match with a 25-11 victory.
 
Russell led the Griffon offense with nine kills, helping the team hit an impressive .355 with 37 total kills. Johnson contributed 26 assists, while Heldt provided a team-leading 13 digs.
 
MATCH 2: MWSU 0, GVSU 3
Missouri Western volleyball dropped its second match of the season against host No. 19 Grand Valley State.
 
The Griffons lost a closely contested first set to the Lakers, ending their 12-set winning streak. After tying the set at 11, MWSU went on a 7-2 run to grab a 17-13 lead. Later in the set, with a tied score of 23-23, Grand Valley secured a 1-0 advantage with a kill from Meghan O'Sullivan.
 
Four service aces and four blocks helped the Lakers secure a 25-18 victory in the second set. MWSU struggled offensively, committing eight errors and hitting below .200 on 32 attempts.
 
In the final set, there were five ties and four lead changes. Western was the first team to reach 20, but Grand Valley found a late 8-1 run to secure the three-set final.
 
Lily Kurz recorded seven kills and two blocks for the Griffons. Anna Weberg (12) and Hailey Crane each notched double-digit kills, while Johnson brought her assist total to 51 on the day with 25 in the match.
 
UP NEXT
Western will conclude the Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic tomorrow afternoon at the Davenport Student Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The action is scheduled to begin at noon and 3:00 p.m. CT against Davenport (Mich.) and Tiffin (Ohio).