GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY LAKERS

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ALLENDALE -- Joe Skuta, the 24-year-old brother of Dan Skuta, Grand Valley State's Division II All-American defensive tackle, died in his sleep Monday night of yet-to-be-determined causes.

The Grand Valley State sports information department confirmed the report, but has yet to obtain any detailed information. Coach Chuck Martin has talked with the family and his star tackle, who told the coach he would return to campus Thursday.

Press File Photo/Adam BirdAshland quarterback Billy Cundiff finished with 358 yards passing and four touchdowns against Grand Valley State earlier this season.

ALLENDALE -- After Grand Valley State had rallied to beat Ashland 48-42 in late October, Grand Valley State coach Chuck Martin told Ashland's Lee Owens that he would see him in a few weeks.

"I had looked at the possible playoff pairings, and it looked like we would meet them again," Martin said.

Game on: Saturday, 1 p.m. Lubbers Stadium.

And the good Grand Valley State team -- the one with a defense that bends, but doesn't often break -- better show up.

Press File Photo/Adam BirdGrand Valley State quarterback Brad Iciek is a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy.

ALLENDALE -- Grand Valley State's Brad Iciek is a finalist in voting to determine the top football player in Division II, but he would rather talk about Saturday's playoff game against Ashland University.

"I'm honored, but I'm trying to focus on Ashland, and more importantly work toward that," he said.

Iciek, a junior from Grandville with 29 touchdown passes and just three interceptions, is one of eight finalists in the voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy for the second consecutive year. He finished seventh last year.

ALLENDALE -- For the second consecutive year, Grand Valley State quarterback Brad Iciek is one of eight finalists in the voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy.

Iciek, a junior from Grandville, finished seventh in the voting last year for the award that recognizes the top football player in Division II.

"It's an honor, but it's just a reflection of the success of our team," said Iciek, who, with the Lakers, will take on Ashland (Ohio) University in a second-round playoff game at Lubbers Stadium on Saturday.

ALLENDALE -- Losing to Michigan Tech this month served as a learning experience for Grand Valley State's volleyball team.

The Lakers used that knowledge to win the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship Sunday.

GVSU has gone on a tear since its Nov. 7 defeat, extending its winning streak to three matches after beating Saginaw Valley State 25-20, 25-18, 15-25, 25-14 in the GLIAC finals. It was the Lakers' 25th win in 26 matches.

ALLENDALE -- No cool-down was necessary for Grand Valley State's women's soccer team after Sunday's match.

The snow that fell during the Lakers' 2-0 shutout of Quincy (Ill.) served that purpose.

Grand Valley advanced to the next round of the NCAA Division II tournament with its 19th shutout of the season, which broke a national Division II single-season record for shutouts, previously set in 2005 by West Chester (Pa.) University.

ALLENDALE -- The Grand Valley men's basketball team faced a Davenport University squad that had five games to work out the kinks in the Lakers' season-opener Saturday afternoon.

And if taking on the 5-0 Panthers wasn't enough of a challenge for a squad that features nine new faces on its roster, the Lakers were also facing the coach who had recruited most of them.

Burt Paddock, in his first season on the Davenport bench, had been a GVSU assistant four years.

ALLENDALE -- A very young Grand Valley State women's basketball team, sporting eight true freshman on this year's roster, grew up a bit Saturday afternoon in its season-opener against Saint Joseph's of Indiana.

The Lakers started strong, building a 21-point edge at halftime and cruised to a 77-43 win against the Pumas.