Sept. 21, 2007

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State volleyball team finished with its eighth-best single-match kill total in school history by totaling 85 kills in a five-set victory over Gannon on Friday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

The Lakers (5-9 overall, 1-2 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) opened a five-match homestand by defeating Gannon, 30-27, 22-30, 30-27, 29-31, 15-12.

They play host to Mercyhurst at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Ali Jones totaled a career-high 20 kills and Jamie Groos added a career-high 19 kills to lead the Laker attack. Sara Hess chipped in 13 kills, and Samantha Gibbs had 10. LSSU had a team attack percentage of .256, and Groos led individually with a .333 attack rate.

Erin McLain finished with a career-high 64 assists, which is the third-best single-match assist total in school history. Jessica Ewer added a career-high 41 digs, which ranks second on LSSU's all-time single-match digs list.

After losing a Game 4 heartbreaker, the Lakers rallied back from a 5-2 deficit in Game 5. They took an 8-6 lead, and eventually pulled away from an 11-10 lead on two key service points by McLain and two sideouts.

Gannon dropped to 4-7 overall and 0-3 in the GLIAC.