ALLENDALE, MI- Colorado Christian headed to Michigan to take on Grand Valley State on day one of their three-day tournament in the Great Lakes State. The hosts came out strong and never looked back as the Lakers took down the Cougars in straight sets. 

The first set began with a run of quick points from GVSU as they jumped to a 14-3 lead early. The deficit was too much to overcome for CCU despite a good set from Renee Phillips with a few kills as the Lakers won 25-9. 

The Cougars pushed the hosts much more in the second set, as the score stood at seven apiece early in the set. Alli Douglass slammed one home as Colorado Christian trailed 13-10 midway through the set. However, GVSU was able to go on several runs as they pulled away for a 25-16 set win. 

The third set was by far the most competitive of the match as both teams battled to the end. It was a set of runs as the Lakers jumped ahead 16-5 quickly. But the Cougars showed a lot of resilience as they clawed all the way back to just a 22-20 deficit on kills from Douglass and Phillips. In the end, though, the hosts proved to be too much as they closed out the set and the match with a 25-20 third set win. 

Suzanna Conner led the offense with nine kills, while Phillips followed with seven. Izzy Jones dished out 24 assists, while Phillips, Conner and Janelle Deboer all chipped in a block apiece. 

The Cougars continue play at the Grand Valley Invite with a pair of games on September 8 as they take on Ursuline College at 8 a.m. MST and Tiffin University (Ohio) at 2 p.m. MST.