Competing for the Division II Women's Volleyball Championship on someone else's home court wasn't the best-case scenario for Grand Valley State.

The Lakers entered the finals knowing all about Nebraska-Kearney's 66-match home winning streak, and they also anticipated a partisan Division II championship record crowd.

None of that deterred Grand Valley State from its mission of capturing the institution's first women's volleyball championship, though, as the Lakers downed Nebraska-Kearney in four games, 30-18, 30-27, 25-30, 30-24, at the Health and Sports Center December 3.

It was the first time Nebraska-Kearney (38-2) lost in its own gymnasium since November 8, 2002, when Metro State registered a 3-1 victory.

The 66-match home winning streak tied for the second longest in Division II women's volleyball history. Northern Michigan won the same number of consecutive home matches from 1992 to 1996. The University of New Haven holds the all-time record with 109.

"This is just incredible," said Grand Valley State coach Deanne Scanlon, whose team also broke Nebraska-Kearney's 33-match overall winning streak this season. "This team deserves so much. When we set our team goals back in August, they wrote 'GVSU National Champions.' That was the first team I've had do that."

Grand Valley State (32-6) kept the frenzied atmosphere under control with its strong play from the initial whistle. All-American Tracy Kirk and Megan Helsen scored the winning point of the match by combining to block Nebraska-Kearney all-American Erin Gudmundson's kill attempt.

The Lakers, who became the first women's team at their institution to win a national title, built an 8-4 advantage and won the first game riding the strength of a .412 attack percentage.

In the second game, Grand Valley State led, 27-19, courtesy of strong play from Tina Tromblay. The 5-8 senior recorded a kill and served six straight points to break open the score.

Nebraska-Kearney rallied but fell by three points at the end of Game 2.

Grand Valley appeared poised for the sweep when it led, 10-4, in the third game, but the Antelopes gave their fans hope by winning the game, 30-25.

"I was proud of the way our women fought back," said Nebraska-Kearney coach Rick Squiers. "Things were clearly not going our way, but we hung in there. We had some chances in Game 4 but couldn't get it done."

The Lakers broke open a 22-22 tie in what turned out to be the final game of the season by outscoring Nebraska-Kearney, 8-3, down the stretch.

Grand Valley State, which had 12 team blocks, limited Nebraska-Kearney to a .084 attack percentage in the match.

Meghan Moore's 17 kills and Kirk's 13 sparked the Lakers' offense, which also produced 10 service aces in the match.

Moore, Kirk, Helsen Alyson Riley and Jamie Ashmore of Grand Valley State were named to the all-tournament team.

The Lakers' senior class finished their careers with a 121-24 (.834) mark.

Quarterfinals

Grand Valley St. def. Dowling, 30-21, 27-30, 30-24, 30-25; Tampa def. Concordia-St. Paul, 27-30, 30-23, 28-30, 30-27, 15-11; Neb.-Kearney def. Truman, 30-25, 30-28, 30-32, 30-27; Cal. St. L.A. def. Lock Haven, 30-32, 30-28, 30-17, 25-30, 15-13.

Semifinals

Grand Valley St. def. Tampa, 19-30, 30-19, 30-26, 28-30, 15-10; Neb.-Kearney def. Cal St. L.A., 30-23, 30-24, 30-18.

Championship match