PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake Erie volleyball team continued their time at home to continue G-MAC competition as they would compete against the Walsh Cavaliers. The Storm would take the Cavaliers to extra points in the third set, but the Cavaliers would prevail in straight sets. Lake Erie moves to 1-5 in the G-MAC and 3-11 overall. 

Game Recap

The first set would see each team go on scoring runs early. The Storm would jump out to a 3-1 lead after a kill from senior Anna Lewis and an ace from senior Brooklyn Broadway. The Cavaliers would take the next five points to give them a 6-4 lead. Walsh would continue growing their lead to 13-8 after multiple kills. Three kills by senior Katelyn McMoore, each assisted by senior Simone Schurr, would cut the Cavaliers lead to 14-11. Walsh would take control in the set by building a 20-12 lead after consecutive Storm attack errors. Two kills from redshirt freshman Rori Hanken and a block by Lewis and McMoore would not be enough for the Storm as the Cavaliers would take the first set by a score of 25-15. 

The second set would begin with the teams exchanging points. With the Storm taking a 4-3 lead after a Cavaliers attack error, the Cavaliers would grab momentum in the set by winning the next eight points to give the Cavaliers an 11-4 lead. Walsh would build their lead to 21-9 by taking advantage of Storm miscues. Lake Erie would win the next three points on kills from sophomore Diamond Baker and freshman Gabrielle Jones to bring the score to 21-12. Two kills from senior Alexandra Matthews would not be enough for the Storm as the Cavaliers would take the second set by a score of 25-16. 

The third set would see the team exchange points in pairs. After an attack error by the Cavaliers to give the Storm a 4-3 lead, the Cavaliers would take the next three points to take a 6-4. The teams would go back and forth winning two points each. After a Baker kill to tie the set at 12-12, Walsh would win six of the next seven points to give them a 18-13 lead. Lake Erie would begin to claw their way back after a kill and a block from freshman Sadie Nawrocki to cut the Cavaliers lead to 21-18. The Storm would come back to tie the set at 22-22 after two aces by sophomore Jenna Sayles. Extra points would be needed to decide the third set. Lake Erie would have a chance to win the set after taking a 28-27 lead after kills from Lewis, Broadway, and Nawrocki. Walsh would take the next three points and win the third set by a score of 30-28. 

The Storm offense would be led by McMoore, who would have eight kills. Matthews, returning from injury, would chip in with five kills. At the service line, Broadway and Sayles would have two aces each. Schurr would lead the team with 21 assists and Sayles would pitch in 11 of her own. The Storm defense was led by McMoore, Lewis, and Baker each having a block and Broadway would lead the team with 22 digs and freshman Cecelia Mullen would have 12 digs of her own. 

The Matchup

With the loss, Lake Erie has now lost nine consecutive matches against Walsh with the last Lake Erie win coming back in 2018. 

Looking Ahead

Lake Erie will wrap up their home slate and continue G-MAC competition as they take on Ashland University on Saturday, October 5th at 1 p.m.