Sept. 8, 2007

DULUTH, Minn. - The Lake Superior State volleyball team stormed to an early lead, then held on to beat North Dakota 3-1 during its final match at the Minnesota-Duluth Classic.

Saturday's win, which snapped a four-match losing streak, left the Lakers with a 1-2 record in the tournament and a 4-7 overall mark heading into next week's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener at Grand Valley State. The Lakers polished off the weekend with a total team effort against UND.

LSSU built momentum early on two kills by Ali Jones and one each by Jamie Groos and Erin McLain. The Lakers jumped to a 6-1 lead and forced North Dakota (2-9) to call an early timeout. They continued to build steam, extending their lead to 19-7. They went on to win Game 1 by a decisive 30-13 score. They posted an amazing .419 attack percentage in that contest, totaling 15 kills and only two errors on 31 attempts.

LSSU jumped to an 11-6 lead in Game 2, but UND closed within reach, tying it 17-17. North Dakota led 27-26 until Laker Holly Orban came off the bench and tied it with a kill. Orban then served the next three points for a 30-27 win.

North Dakota battled back from a 21-14 deficit to win Game 3, 31-29. LSSU held a 27-26 lead in that set, but couldn't hang on.

Game 4 was also close as LSSU fought back from a 16-14 deficit to tie it, 19-19. Jones had a kill to give the Lakers a 27-25 advantage. She made it match point, 29-26, with a solo block.

Jones finished with 14 kills, while Sara Hess and Groos had 13 each. Hess also had two block solos and two block assists, while Jones contributed three block solos and one block assist. Jessica Ewer totaled 28 digs, and McLain finished with 43 assists.