PORT HURON, Mich. – Lakeland Community College volleyball had to win three matches for a NJCAA District E championship and won the first two matches and came within one set of nationals in a 3-2 loss to Mott Community College Saturday evening.
The Lakers started the day with a 3-1 win over Oakland Community College in the consolation bracket. With the win, Lakeland moved into the championship game against Mott and had to win two consecutive games. The Lakers won the first match 3-2 but Mott earned the trip to nationals with a 3-2 victory in a winner-takes-all match.
Despite the loss, Lakeland had a very impressive season and finished with an overall record of 20-15.
Lakeland 3 – Oakland 1
Lakeland dropped the first set to Oakland but was able to bounce back to claim a 3-1 victory by the score 23-25, 25-23, 25-23 and 25-16.
Lakeland 3 – Mott 2 (Game 1)
Lakeland did not start the match off very well after losing the first two sets but the Lakers stormed back to win three consecutive sets to win 3-2 and force a rematch against Mott. The Lakers won the match by the score of 15-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-17 and 15-10.
Iesha Niciu finished with 17 kills and nine blocks while Krista Curtis finished with 15 kills and 10 digs. Caitlin Cipriano dished out 47 assists while Brittney O'Hara earned 46 digs.
Lakeland came out a little flat and dropped the first two sets 25-15 and 25-21. Lakeland bounced back in the third set with 15 team kills and Curtis had eight kills herself as the Lakers took the third 25-19.
Lakeland kept the momentum going in the fourth with 14 team kills as Lauryn Mitchell came in to provide five kills to claim a 25-17 victory to force a fifth set. Lakeland did not relinquish the momentum and forced a winner-takes-all championship game with a 15-10 victory in the fifth.
Mott 3 – Lakeland 2 (Game 2)
The rematch between Lakeland and Mott went back and forth and it all came down to a fifth set that Mott was able to grab the upper hand and claim a 3-2 victory to leave Lakeland just one set away from nationals.
Mott won by the score 25-23, 21-25, 25-18, 17-25 and 15-12. Niciu finished with 27 kills for Lakeland and eight blocks. Curtis finished with 14 kills and 14 digs.
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.