Posted: Oct 07, 2024

Volleyball Endures Tough Weekend in Grand Rapids

The GRCC Raider Challenge in Grand Rapids proved that despite their 15-5 record entering the weekend, the Roadrunners have plenty of room to grow. Against top-tier competiton, including two nationally-ranked teams, SMC lost all four matches they played.

On Saturday, SMC lost to #16 McHenry 18-25, 6-25, and 21-25 and Mott 14-25, 20-25, and 15-25. "We are playing some of the toughest teams in our area this weekend, and in order to be the best, we have to play the best - even at the expense of not getting the wins sometimes," said Head Coach Jenny Nate. "We were faced with strong hitters and bigger blocks today - we were forced to execute various ways of attacking to get kills and have faster intentional blocking. We have to get all of our hitters attacking and earning kills - offensive execution remains our top priority right now. We have to continue to build on our strengths and at the same time take a close look at areas where we can improve and then come back tomorrow better. We turn around tomorrow and face a top ranked GRCC Team and a tough Carl Sanburg. These matches will be great preparation for the second round of the conference, and as always we are playing to win."

Leading serving scorers for Saturday: Amanda Jones 9 points, 1 ace; Josie West 5 points, 1 ace; Anna Johnson 5 points; Cadence Knight 5 points; Talan Hiemstra 4 points, 1 ace; Gia Jania 4 points; Reese Maas 4 points; Ryli Burks 2 points

Kills: Josie West 13, Gia Jania 8, Ryli Burks 6, Kallie Solloway 6, Zyon Brazo 6, Abi Marquis 5, Talan Hiemstra 2, Amanda Jones 1

Blocks: Gia Jania 9, Kallie Solloway 4, Talan Hiemstra 1, Abi Marquis 1, Zyon Brazo 1

Digs: Cadence Knight 32, Amanda Jones 18, Ryli Burks 15, Josie West 13, Anna Johnson 10, Talan Hiemstra 6, Zyon Brazo 4, Gia Jania 3, Abi Marquis 1

Assists: Anna Johnson 20, Ryli Burks 15, Reese Maas 3, Cadence Knight 1, Amanda Jones 1

On Sunday, the team lost to Carl Sandburg 25-12, 25-12, 25-22 and to hosts GRCC 13-25, 25-23, 17-25, 17-25. "They put us in a higher level bracket this season to play against the strongest teams at this tournament," Nate said. "In the past, we have always faced some strong teams, but this year, every team was one of the toughest in the area and two of them - the toughest in the country. We learned a lot this weekend; we always want to win. That's always our goal, but when we don't we have to step back and evaluate why, make no excuses, and get better. A team has to be playing at it's best when facing these types of teams. At times we did that, and at other times we didn't. We have to maintain the energy it takes to win point for point every point of every game. I think we improved our offense this weekend, communication, and blocking. We took a set from ranked GRCC; that is what we are capable of. Now, we have to take these lessons and use them as fire this week as we head into the second round of conference play."

The Roadrunners are now 15-9 overall and 4-2 in Western Conference play.

Leading serving scorers for Sunday: Ryli Burks 34 points, 1 ace; Gia Jania 6 points, 2 aces; Anna Johnson 5 points, 2 aces; Cadence Knight 4 points, 1 ace; Amanda Jones 4 points; Talan Hiemstra 3 points; Josie West 2 points

Kills: Josie West 24, Gia Jania 13, Ryli Burks 11, Abi Marquis 9, Kallie Solloway 8, Talan Hiemstra 3

Blocks: Gia Jania 7, Abi Marquis 6, Ryli Burks 5, Josie West 3, Kallie Solloway 3

Digs: Cadence Knight 32, Amanda Jones 26, Josie West 22, Anna Johnson 13, Kallie Solloway 4

Assists: Anna Johnson 24, Ryli Burks 22