PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake Erie volleyball team returned home to continue G-MAC competition as they would compete against the Thomas More Saints. The Storm, searching for their first G-MAC win of the season, would see the win column as they would prevail in four hard fought sets against the Saints. With the win, Lake Erie moves to 1-4 in the G-MAC and 3-10 overall. 

Game Recap

The first set of the match would see an early start for the Saints as they would build an early 7-2 lead. The Saints would see their early lead dwindle to a 7-6 lead as the Storm would win the next four points highlighted by an ace from senior Sarah Leyden. Thomas More would see their lead grow back to five after Lake Erie miscues for a 15-10 advantage. The Storm would begin to chip away at the Saints lead as kills from freshman Allison Kirch, sophomore Diamond Baker, and senior Katelyn McMoore, each being assisted by senior Simone Schurr, would bring the lead to 18-17 for the Saints. After a Thomas More kill to bring their lead to 22-20, Lake Erie would see their first lead in the set by taking the next three points on kills from McMoore and senior Anna Lewis along with a TMU attack error. With the score now at 24-24, the Storm would take the first set by a score of 26-24 after kills from McMoore and redshirt freshman Rori Hanken. 

The second set would begin with both teams exchanging points. With the score at 6-5 for Lake Erie after a Thomas More kill, Lake Erie would win the next four points after kills from Hanken and freshman Nora Larson, and an ace by Baker and build a 10-5 advantage. The Saints would fight back and win the next four points to bring the Storm lead to 10-9. The teams would begin to trade points. With the score tied at 15-15, Lake Erie would win four of the next five points for a 19-16 lead after Thomas More miscues. After an ace from Schurr to bring the Storm lead to 23-20, three Saints kills would tie the game at 23-23. Kills from Kirch and McMoore would give the second set to Lake Erie as they would win by a score of 25-23. 

The third set would see the Storm carry momentum from the second set as they would jump out to an early 7-3 lead after a block by Baker. Thomas More would halt the Lake Erie momentum by taking the next six points and taking 9-7 lead. Teams would then begin to exchange points. After a kill from McMoore tied the set at 15-15, the Saints would win four of the next five points to take a 19-16 lead. Kills from Kirch and Larson would not be enough as Thomas More would take the third set by a score of 25-20. 

The fourth set would see the Storm grab early momentum in the set as they would take an early 8-3 lead with kills from McMoore, Kirch, and Hanken, and a block by Hanken. The Saints would cut the lead down to two to bring the score to 11-9. Lake Erie would grow their lead back to five to bring the lead to 16-11 with kills from McMoore, Baker, and Hanken and a block by Kirch and Baker. Thomas More would see momentum swing their way as they would eight of the next nine points and take a 19-17 lead. The Storm would win the next three points to take a 20-19 with a kill from freshman Sadie Nawrocki and a block from Hanken. With the score tied at 20-20, Lake Erie would win the next five points with kills from McMoore, Nawrocki, and Lewis, and a block by Nawrocki and Lewis to take the fourth set by a score of 25-20. 

The Storm offense was led by McMoore, who had a career high 13 kills. Schurr would lead the team with 26 assists and Leyden would add in 15 of her own. The Storm defense was led by Hanken and Kirch, who each at three blocks, and freshman Cecelia Mullen would lead the team with 21 digs and senior Brooklyn Broadway would add in 20 of her own. 

The Matchup

With the Lake Erie victory, Lake Erie would even the series with Thomas More with the only other match between the two coming in 2023 with Thomas More securing a straight sets victory. 

Looking Ahead

Lake Erie will continue their home stretch and G-MAC competition as they take on Walsh University on Friday, October 4th at 7 p.m.