An eight year journey with GVSU volleyball

From left to right: Hilda Deible, Meghan Scanlon,
Megan Walling, and Ruth and Katey Crichton
on Senior Day 2012. 

Volleyball – to most it's a silly game, but to me it signifies opportunity.

For 25 points at a time my world stops. The sidelines are one place that always make me realize that my disability cannot and will not define my life. It's like for a few moments nobody can place limitations upon me.

I'm a firm believer that life isn't about all the things you may never accomplish. Instead, life is about all the opportunities you have in front of you. Even for someone with those beliefs, it was hard see opportunity out a court. Especially, knowing I will probably never walk out on it.

It wasn't until I spent eight years with the Grand Valley State University volleyball program that I even began to understand the magnitude of the opportunity that was front of me.

Cerebral Palsy may alter the way I approach a volleyball court, but it doesn't alter the magic that is college sports. Throughout the past eight years, Laker volleyball has given me the opportunity to experience so many things that student-athletes treasure.

From afar, I experienced the thrill of a national championship, two Elite Eight appearances, a Final Four run, and the milestone of notching 1,000 program victories. More importantly though, I gained a whole new family.

People always ask me if I ever imagine what my life would have been like if I could have played volleyball. While I have thought about it a time or two, I think more about how much I would be missing if things had turned out differently.

If things were different, I would be left without the friendship of 61 student athletes, an incredible coaching staff, and countless families and alums. I would be left without the memories of long road trips, tailgates and all the little things that come along with being part of team. Those are things I wouldn't change for the world.

When I first started this journey, I was simply a fifteen-year-old trying to find a way to stay involved in a game I love. Rolling into the Fieldhouse Arena back in 2005, I never expected that one head coach and one program could change my life. I was wrong.

In sports and in life there are so many opportunities. Every time you step out on the court you are presented with chance to play for something bigger than yourself. You represent your family, friends, hometown, school and all the people along the way that helped you get where you are today.

Thank you to each and every person who has been or is currently involved in GVSU volleyball. Throughout the past eight seasons you couldn't have been a better example of what it means to play for something way bigger than yourself.

To the players that have competed from 2005-2012, whether it was for one season or five, you have all impacted my life for the better. You have reinforced my faith that athletics can bring about opportunities in many different forms and gave me a chance to experience a little piece of Laker volleyball in a way I never thought possible. I am forever grateful for that.

THANK YOU!

Abby Aiken (2011-2012)

Danielle Alexander (2005-2008)

Janelle Beaudry (2007-2008)

Ashley Blaszczak (2009-2011)

Grace Burns (2010)

Stephanie Camper (2012)

Christina Canepa (2011-2012)

Stacey Catalono (2010-2011)

Allyssa DeHaan Clark (2011)

Katey Crichton (2005-2009)

Tina Tromblay Doran (2005)

Abby Ebels (2009-2012)

Sacha Gill (2010-2012)

Cortney Lokker Goodale (2005-2006)

Kaity Gormley (2006-2009)

Carley Gross (2012)

Megan Helsen Hamilton (2005-2006)

Lauren Hanson (2005)

Lindsey Bayle Hardley (2005-2006)

Erica Vande Kopple Heimforth (2005-2007)

Kelly Hogan (2005)

Lyndsey Holt (2011-2012)

Andrea Hyames (2010-2011)

Brittney Jackson (2010)

Cailie Johnson (2010-2011)

Ann Kendzicky (2007-2009)

Tracy Kirk (2005)

Jessica Knysz (2008)

Olivia Kohler (2009-2011)

Krysta Kornack (2006-2010)

Alisha Laing (2012)

Kaleigh Lound (2012)

Sara Lowe (2007)

Jessica Majerle (2012)

Stephanie McCarthy (2006-2007)

Courtney McCotter (2007-2011)

Allyson McKnight Riley (2005-2007)

Mackenzie Mitzner (2010)

Traci Baker Mostrom (2007)

Audrey Oake (2012)

Briana Usitalo Paul (2006)

Sam Phillips (2009-2012)

Jamie Ashmore Pott (2005-2008)

Rebeccah Rapin (2007-2010)

Lauren Reber (2005-2008)

Rachel Rohlfs (2008-2009)

Betsy Ronda (2012)

Clair Ruhenkamp (2011-2012)

Meghan Scanlon (2006-2010)

Megan Schroeder (2011-2012)

Ally Simmons (2011-2012)

Meghan Moore Slater (2005-2006)

Abby Storm (2009)

Whitney Tremain (2008-2009)

Eno Umoh (2008-2012)

Leslie Curtis Veneman (2007-2010)

Megan Walling (2005-2008)

Josie Werner (2012)

Nicole Whiddon (2008-2011)

Alyssa Wolfram (2011-2012)

Meredith Young (2006-2009)

GOOD TIMES ARE A’COMIN’

The Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team logged plenty of miles over the holiday break with a trip to Florida and a pair of conference road games, and at the end of it all, the Lakers are on their first winning streak of the season.

On Saturday, GVSU (7-7, 4-3 GLIAC) traveled to Lake Superior State University and picked up its third straight GLIAC win.

GVL Archive Photo

“I’m really proud,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess. “We moved the ball, shot the ball well and everyone bought in. It’s what we’ve so desperately been waiting for.”

The Lakers used long range shooting in the form of eight 3-pointers to sink Lake Superior State University (5-8, 1-5 GLIAC), 74-53.

Forwards Kellie Watson and Briauna Taylor paced the offense from beyond arc, knocking down seven triples between them and adding 16 and 19 points, respectively.

Junior Alex Stelfox, who sunk a buzzer-beating layup in the team’s 50-48 win at Saginaw Valley State University on Thursday, said the Lakers have been working on shooting and moving the ball in practice, which are important elements to maintain a balance on offense.

Senior forward Kara Crawford complimented GVSU’s long range shooting by chipping in with 13 points and six rebounds against Lake Superior State.

“We’ve worked really hard and I think we’re finally in the right mindset,” she said. “As a fifth-year, I couldn’t be more proud of our defensive effort. The games we lost were probably because shots weren’t falling, but now everything is starting to click.”

In Thursday’s game at Saginaw Valley State University (3-10, 1-5 GLIAC), GVSU pulled out a thrilling come from behind victory, capped off by Stelfox late game heroics.

The Lakers overcame a 10-point second-half deficit behind strong defense from Crawford and sophomore guard Breanna Kellogg.

“That was the first buzzer beater I have ever had,” said Stelfox. “The play wasn’t even meant for me, it was supposed to go to Briauna Taylor, but I was open and Kellie Watson gave me the ball. I put a hook shot and it took forever to go down, but I’m glad it did because I didn’t want to go to overtime.”

Prior to the New Year, GVSU defeated defending GLIAC and Midwest Regional Champions and then-No. 7 Michigan Technological University (9-3, 4-2 GLIAC) for the first time in five years.

“It meant a lot to beat Tech, it was a turning point for us,” Crawford said. “I’ve been here for five years and never beat them. That was probably the best game we’ve played all season and it was nice to get a win because we’ve been close so many times.”

Following the marquee victory over the Huskies, GVSU traveled to Florida to take on Florida Southern University (10-4) and the University of Tampa.

Briauna Taylor led the way in both contests in the sunshine state, scoring 22 points against Florida Southern
and 14 against Tampa (7-5). Despite Taylor’s efforts, GVSU lost both contests.

The Lakers will challenge Northwood University on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Fieldhouse Arena.

Taylor leads Lakers to first road win

After four lost opportunities, the Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team earned its first road victory of the season Saturday in a 69-63 victory over Tiffin University.

“We’ve been through some adversity, there’s no doubt about it,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess. “To get a road win in the fashion that we did was very important. The kids were tough, they fought through the entire 40 minutes of the game, played great defense and were really relentless down the stretch even when Tiffin continued to make a push at us.”

The victory comes just two days after GVSU (3-3, 1-1 GLIAC) let a 22-point first-half lead slip away in a 79-56 loss at Ohio Dominican University (5-1, 1-1 GLIAC).

GVL Archive Photo

“On Thursday, what it came down to was we weren’t getting defensive stops,” said junior guard Lauren Stadola. “On Friday in practice and in our shoot-around we really worked on defense.”

In the loss against the Panthers, Stodola led the Lakers with 18 points and three rebounds while junior forward Brittany Taylor chipped in with 12 points and six rebounds.

Saturday proved to be a new day for the Lakers, who defeated Tiffin University 69-63, en route to GVSU’s first road and first conference victory of the season.

“Our focus was really on getting defensive stops because we know that’s how we have to win on the road in the GLIAC,” Stodola said. “It feels good that everyone did their part and we were successful together. We bounced back after hitting some adversity so hopefully we can keep it going now.”

Despite trailing the Dragons (4-1, 1-1 GLIAC) by three points at the half, GVSU found a way to pull off a victory behind the play of junior forward Briauna Taylor.

“I wasn’t really happy with how I have played,” she said. “So (Saturday) I wanted to go out and just play and have fun with it.”

Taylor, who has struggled on the offensive end as of late, only scoring six points in GVSU’s previous two contests, exploded with a game-high 25 points, eight rebounds and two steals.

Although Taylor’s 25 points led a Laker offense, which shot 60 percent from the floor in the second half, junior center Alex Stelfox also contributed with 15 points and eight rebounds.

“We moved the ball really well offensively,” Burgess said. “We were selfless. We had 17 assists and were willing to make the extra pass to get somebody an open shot.”

The Lakers took control of the game at the 17:26 mark and never looked back when Briauna Taylor and Stodola came up with back-to-back steals that were converted into baskets.

“We didn’t want to drop two games in Ohio to start the GLIAC, so we just worked from the Ohio Dominican game to come back and get a win,” Taylor said. “This was probably our best offensive game of the year.”

The Lakers will return to action at 6 p.m. on Wednesday when they travel to Northwood University.

SHORT STATURE BIG GAME

Courtesy of Robert Mathews

Her name may be etched in Grand Valley State University women’s basketball record books now, but senior Jasmine Padin’s first encounter with sports began in a boxing ring, not on a basketball court.

Padin, a native of Wyoming, Mich., took on boxing for four years before her older brother, Jose Padin, sparked her curiosity in basketball.

“One day my brother picked up a basketball, and I saw him playing in the park,” Padin said. “I was like, ‘Hey what is that?’ He honestly taught me the game of basketball, and I fell in love with it.”

Although GVSU’s 5-foot-2 point guard gave up boxing to pursue the game of basketball, boxing principles came in handy when she had to “fight” to prove she could play basketball beyond high school.

“I’ve kind of embraced my shortness — it was nothing I could change, so it allowed me to be more motivated,” she said. “People would tell me that I’m too little or I’m too short, and I’m never going to play basketball at a high level, but I never saw my height as an issue. I saw it as a benefit.”

Padin even had to prove herself to GVSU head coach Janel Burgess, who said she was initially hesitant to recruit Padin but decided to give her a chance to suit up for the Lakers.

Now in her fourth season as a GVSU starter, Padin has put to bed any doubts Burgess may have had. In 90 games, Padin has left her mark on GVSU basketball history, ranking second in all-time free-throw percentage, third in all-time 3-pointers made and fifth in all-time career assists.

But with all of her offensive accomplishments at GVSU, Burgess said it’s Padin’s defensive prowess that makes her a special player.

“What makes her good is her ability to be a defensive gnat, a defensive anchor on the full-court,” she said. “And her ability to be able to be a strong point guard, offensively run the show and make her teammates better. She can also hit a deep three and alleviate pressure on the inside.”

Padin’s teammates, on the other hand, look to her for her knowledge and commitment to the game.

“From a coaches perspective, she is probably the perfect point guard,” said senior forward Kara Crawford. “Because she’s a senior now, she has a lot of knowledge, and I think that Coach can trust her. A lot of times Coach doesn’t have to call a play because Jasmine already has one in mind.”

In her last season with the GVSU, Padin said her goal is to have a successful year and embrace her opportunities with her teammates.

“Of course, everyone wants to win the big one,” she said. “To be GLIAC season champs and be tournament champs, and hopefully win a national championship. As far as my senior season goes, I want us to be successful on the court, but at the same time, I just want to build friendships with my teammates, which I have done since I’ve been here.”

Lakers win, lose over Thanksgiving holiday

After a disappointing loss in their season opener, junior center Alex Stelfox and the Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team had no problem finishing shots on Tuesday against Aquinas College.

Behind an 18-point outburst from Stelfox and strong play from guards Lauren Stodola and Jasmine Padin, the Lakers (2-1) defeated the Saints 75-47.

Courtesy of Robert Matthews

“We needed this win pretty bad,” said Stelfox, who shot 75 percent from the field and grabbed four rebounds. “That first game wasn’t how we normally play, so we had to focus in practice, and this gets our confidence up again.”

On the offensive end, the Lakers found the bottom of the net early and often with 10 different players scoring on the night. Padin and Stodola lead the charge in distributing the ball, combining for eight assists and two steals.

“I loved how our point guards were kicking the ball ahead,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess. “I mean look at Jasmine, five assists and one turnover and Lauren Stodola having three assists and one turnover. Those are all good signs to build and progress on as we head into Wisconsin Parkside.”

The Laker bench also played a pivotal role in the win, accounting for almost a quarter of GVSU’s offensive output.

“So many kids got some great opportunities,” Burgess said. “It was great to see Kellie Watson come in and play some good minutes and have some open shots go in.”

Defensively, GVSU used its size and tenacity to limit Aquinas to six field goals and 16 points in first half.
Burgess said the effort on the defensive end was solid in large part due to the rotation on help defense and the team’s ability to minimize fouls early.

On Saturday, GVSU was unable to earn its first road victory of the season, falling to the University of Wisconsin Parkside (4-1) by a score of 60-73.

“It was a tough environment to play in, but we had the opportunity to be successful,” Burgess said. “We had some key possessions that we did not go finish.”

Watson, who scored a game-high 16 points off the bench, gave GVSU a one-point advantage when she connected on a long range shot to close out the first half.

“Coming out of the locker room we knew we had to keep the lead and keep up the intensity,” Watson said. “As the half went on we just ran into a couple breakdowns that we have to clean up.”

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, but four GVSU turnovers in last three minutes of the game stretched a four-point deficit into a 13-point loss.

“We’re going to have to learn some things from that cause you got to be able finish a game in the last two and a half minutes,” Burgess said. “We have to take care of the ball down the stretch and we have to quit fouling so much. You can’t send a team to the line 30 times and expect to be successful.”

The Lakers will be back in action at 6 p.m. today as they take on Urbana University in the Fieldhouse Arena.

Two years later, Watson looks to help Lakers

The game of basketball is not often associated with a roller coaster, but sophomore forward Kellie Watson’s journey to get back on the court with the Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team has had its ups and downs so far.

Courtesy of Matt Cashore

Coming out of high school in 2008, Watson was named Miss Basketball, an award given annually to the top high school basketball player in Michigan.

After receiving the award, Watson accepted an athletic scholarship to play at the University of Notre Dame, and she sensed her best playing days were ahead of her.

“I was really excited that I had the opportunity to sign with one of the top Division I programs in the country,” she said. “There was really no other reason for me to be anything but excited to start in the summer and see what Division I basketball was really all about.”

In her first season with the Fighting Irish, Watson appeared in all 31 games and was second on the team three-point field goals with 28.

“My freshman year I had great opportunities,” she said. “My whole class had a lot of opportunities to play because there were some injuries to upperclassmen that really opened the window for us.”

With her first season behind her, Watson looked to be a mainstay in South Bend, but an early season knee injury and recurring shoulder injuries, which began in high school, forced her to sit out almost the entirety of her sophomore season.

While Watson was on the mend, she began to evaluate her future and decided transferring to GVSU would be a better path to take.

“The physicality of the Big East was getting to be a lot for my body to handle,” she said. “I already had three shoulder surgeries at that point, and I was just coming off of surgery on my knee. I think I just realized [Notre Dame] wasn’t right, it wasn’t the place that was the best for me.”

Upon arriving at GVSU in 2009, Watson could practice with the Lakers, but NCAA transfer rules prevented her from competing in games until the following season.

Watson suffered another setback when she dislocated her shoulder the day before GVSU took part in its annual season-opening exhibition game at Michigan State University, forcing her take a medical redshirt and sit out the 2010-2011 season.

Watson said the injuries and not being able to go out and compete for two full years was as frustrating beyond words, but all the experiences taught her how much she loved basketball and to appreciate the small things in life.

“You never know when your last game is going to be, you never know when your last play is going to be,” she said. “So you just have to out there and give everything you’ve got all time.”

Watson’s determination and competitive spirit are a welcome sight for the Lakers during the 2011-12 season.

“She’s worked very hard to be able to play still,” said junior guard Lauren Stodola. “She’s gone through so many injuries that could’ve stopped anyone’s career, but she loves the game and just wants to play.”

Despite her playing status being unknown after another shoulder injury this season, the former Gatorade Player of the Year brings with her the experience of playing Division I basketball.

“She’s played at a very high level and she’s been successful,” said GVSU head coach Janel Burgess “We just ask that she brings a competitive edge and helps improve our team from top to bottom."

Wichita Frostbite Regatta is a success for Lakers

For Grand Valley State University Rowing’s head coach John Bancheri and junior Carey Mankins, competing in the Wichita Frostbite Regatta was a homecoming of sorts.

Bancheri, who coached at Wichita State University 20 years ago, and Mankin, a native of Wichita, Kan., were greeted in Wichita by former Shocker rowers, family and friends before the regatta on Nov. 6.

GVL Archive Photo

“When I first found out we were going to Kansas I was excited,” Mankin said. “Probably more excited than anyone on the team because I haven’t seen my aunts and uncles in such a long time. Being in college, I don’t get to go and see my cousins either since it’s 15 hours away, so it was just nice to see my family.”

With connections around the Wichita area, GVSU not only enjoyed staying with the Mankins family, but the Lakers also had the opportunity to stay with and learn from the experiences of some of Bancheri’s former rowers.

“All of the coxswains stayed with a former cox of coach (Bancheri),” said sophomore coxswain Chris Simon. “It was really fun to tell and hear stories and kind of reminisce together.”

The Lakers delivered steady performances in front of their host families and won several medals throughout the competition.

“Everyone put together strong races,” Bancheri said. “The women set a course record and the men missed setting a course record by two seconds. Overall, everyone contributed to our success, even some of our less-experienced rowers.”

On the women’s side, senior Hanna Jones and junior coxswain Jordan Hart led GVSU. Jones raced in five different events, medaling in all of them, while Hart won a gold medal in all four of her races.

Junior Justin Wegner, who medaled in four races, including the men’s open pair race where he finished one second ahead of the University of Colorado, led the men’s team.

Freshmen Austin Burris and Justin Ebert also chipped in with solid performances, both medaling in two different races.

With the Wichita Frostbite Regatta behind them, GVSU has concluded its fall season. Still, the Lakers will continue to train indoors until their spring season begins March.

Bancheri said he is pleased with the progress his rowers have made over the course of the fall season.

“From the beginning of the fall I knew the men’s crew would be very competitive,” he said. “We returned seven out of eight in the first varsity boat and most of last year’s freshmen with promise. I thought the gals on the other hand, were going to be a work in progress since we had just graduated a highly talented group of seniors.”

However, the women varsity rowers have developed faster than Bancheri anticipated.

“The improvement in the young gals’ ergo scores … shows us all one thing: these gals have the need for speed,” he said. “I predict we will have at least eight gals break 2:00 split for 20 minutes. Simply stated, that is as fast as we have ever been on the ergo.”