GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Lakeland Community College was able to bounce back in the second day of the Raider Challenge to beat Kalamazoo Valley Community College 3-0 and then fell to No. 16 Waubonsee Community College Sunday afternoon.
The split of matches leaves the Lakers with an 8-12 overall record and Lakeland remains at 5-3 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference.
Lakeland 3 - Kalamazoo Valley 0
Iesha Niciu had a big game for Lakeland and led with 11 kills and seven blocks to guide the Lakers to a 3-0 victory by the score of 25-13, 25-10 and 25-21.
Niciu was the only Laker in double figures in kills but Cary Morin, Krista Curtis and Morgan Smart each finished with five kills. Caitlin Cipriano led with 21 assists while Brittney O'Hara finished with 16 digs in the win.
Lakeland came out dominating Kalamazoo Valley and ended the set with seven kills, three of which came from Niciu in a 25-13 first set victory. The second set was even better for the Lakers as Lakeland finished with eight kills to take a 2-0 lead in sets with a 25-10 victory.
The third set was slightly closer but Lakeland was able to close out the match with a 25-21 victory with the help of 13 kills in the set, with four each coming from Morin and Niciu.
Waubonsee 3 - Lakeland 0
Lakeland kept every set close against nationally ranked Waubonsee but the Lakers fell 3-0 by the score 25-21, 25-21 and 25-23.
Niciu continued her dominate play at the net in the second match of the day with 14 kills and seven blocks. Morin reached double figures with 12 kills and added 15 digs. Cipriano dished out 31 assists while O'Hara finished with 28 digs.
Lakeland had 14 kill in the first and second set and both sets were extremely close but it was Waubonsee coming out on top in both sets to take a 2-0 lead. Lakeland played even better in the third set and scored 23 points in a loss to suffer a sweep.
Lakeland will be back home on Wednesday, Oct. 4 for a conference match against Cuyahoga Community College at 6 p.m.
For more information about Lakeland athletics, visit www.athletics.lakelandcc.edu.
About Lakeland Community College
Founded in 1967, Lakeland Community College was the first college in Ohio created by a vote of the people. True to our mission, Lakeland provides quality learning opportunities to meet the social and economic needs of the community.
Offering day, evening, weekend and online classes, the college serves more than 10,800 credit and 2,800 noncredit students (2016). For more information about the College, visit www.lakelandcc.edu.