After three days on the road and 1,000 miles later, the Tigers of Grace Volleyball returned home from Hancock, MI, 2-2. The Finlandia Invitational included teams hailing from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and both peninsulas of Michigan. Game play was well-matched as no team finished the weekend undefeated.
 
The Grace Tigers first faced the Lady Samsons of Gogebic Community College on Friday night, 10/9. The Tigers earned the first two sets over Gogebic with scores of 25-21 and 25-23 before the Lady Samsons snuck the third set 19-25. GBC bounced back to claim the overall match 3-1 by winning set four 25-18. As a team, Grace collected 36 kills and 91 digs on the match.
 
Match two against Mount Mary University began in favor of the Blue Angels as they took a close first set 22-25. The Tigers came back with a vengeance and commanded the next three straight sets 25-13, 25-20, 25-13 to win the match 3-1. GBC finished match two with 44 kills, 4 aces and 74 digs.

After a short night's rest at the team house, GBCVB started the morning against host-school Finlandia University. The Lions came into the match hungry for revenge as just three weeks ago, The Tigers outscored them in three sets at home 75-55 overall (25-17, 25-21, 25-17).  On Saturday however, it was Finlandia who won in three sets outscoring GBC 75-57 overall (21-25, 16-25, 20-25).

"Even though this match didn't fall our way, Finlandia is great competition for us," Coach Becky Karsten commented. "We are eager for our next matchup."  Both teams face off for the third and final time on October 23rd at a neutral venue in Milwaukee, WI.

Match four against North Central University was a testament to the Tigers' tenacity. After dropping the first set 12-25, and a nail biting second set 24-26, Grace made adjustments and found a sense of renewed strength earning the third set win 25-18. In the end however, GBC just couldn't fight off the Rams as set four went to NCU 22-25. The Tigers earned 47 kills, 76 digs and 12 blocks as a team.

Weekend stat highlights: Amy Leszinske and Adrianna Bunce led the offensive attack with 43 kills each. Robin Gould, Allyssa Thompson and Marlae Sloothaak added 18, 13 and 8 kills respectively. Anna Veldink earned 97 digs for the Tigers followed by Bunce, Leszinske and Gould with 52, 41 and 32 respectively. Thompson, Gould and Sloothaak also collected 9, 6 and 4 blocks respectively. As a team, the Tigers earned 143 kills, 241 digs, and 27 blocks during the Finlandia Invitational.

The weekend gameball was awarded to Senior Setter Abby Schultz as she collected 27 digs, 5 blocks, 9 kills and an impressive 124 set assists (including a new personal best for assist on a match with 43).

"Every single player made notable contributions to this memorable weekend both on and off the court," Coach Karsten added. "Each member of our GBCVB family brings their own unique and priceless additions to the team as a whole."

Come on out to the Aldrich Athletic Center as the Tigers host Kellogg Community College on Wednesday 10/14.

Gooo Tigers!