Northern Michigan University’s center Mackenzie Gruner extends her arm as Saginaw Valley State University’s Sage Schumacher during the third set of a GLIAC volleyball game at Vanderment Arena in Marquette on Tuesday. (Black uniform, left) and Sedona Kuhn’s defense and scored this spike, scoring a goal. Friday. The Wildcats’ players to watch are, from left, Liesl Haugen, Jacqueline Smith, and Allie Barlow. (Photo by Darryl T. Jarvinen)
Home Game: NMU hosts Michigan Tech today at 6:30 p.m. TV: Fox-UP;Radio: WUPT 100.3 FM The Point
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MARQUETTE — A big home week for the Northern Michigan University volleyball team begins early tonight as the Wildcats host Michigan Technological University at Vanderment Arena starting at 6:30 p.m.
NMU completes its two-game, two-game quest in two days by hosting GLIAC newcomer Roosevelt on Friday, also at 6:30 p.m.
The game ends a six-game homestand for the Wildcats. The Wildcats are already 3-1 in recent host games, starting with a win over Davenport on Sept. 27.
Northern Michigan University’s Lysl Haugen plays the ball after digging it incorrectly during the second set of a GLIAC volleyball game against Saginaw Valley State University at Vanderment Arena in Marquette on Friday. I kept it at. (Photo by Darryl T. Jarvinen)
Northern also lost to No. 1 nationally ranked and GLIAC leader Ferris State the following day, and last weekend faced Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State, all four of which lasted four sets.
The Wildcats are 9-4 overall and sit in second place in the league at 5-1, one game behind Grand Valley State.
Tonight’s game will be televised on Fox-UP with calls from Mark Evans and Dave Ellis, and both tonight’s matchup and Friday’s game against Roosevelt will be broadcast on radio. Tonight’s game will be broadcast on WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, but Friday’s game will be broadcast on WUPK 94.1 FM The Breeze, as the Northern hockey team will be broadcast on WUPT at the same time.
Fans can also follow @NMU_Wildcats and @NMU_Volleyball on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for pre-game and in-game updates. You can also visit the NMU athletics website (nmuwildcats.com) to view the volleyball schedule and a link will appear. Live audio, live video, live stats, ticket information, weekend programs, even inter-team previews and series history.
Tonight’s game is also designated as a Mental Health Awareness Night in partnership with Hilinski’s Hope.
Northern Michigan University’s bench reacts to Megan Meyer’s three straight aces during the first set of a GLIAC volleyball game against Saginaw Valley State University on Friday at Vanderment Arena in Marquette. (Photo by Darryl T. Jarvinen)
After Friday, Northern will be on the road until the first of November, playing next weekend on October 18th and 19th in the Midwest Crossover at Purdue Northwest in Hammond, Indiana (opponents and times are subject to change). Three games (yet to be announced) are scheduled for Oct. 25 at Grand Valley State, Oct. 26 at Wayne State, and a return game against MTU on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The 6 p.m. game at Houghton should also be broadcast on Fox-UP or WLUC-TV6.
Their homecoming will take place on Friday, Nov. 1, against Purdue Northwest at 4 p.m.
Last weekend was a memorable one for the Wildcats. Fifth-year senior outside hitter Jacqueline Smith hit her 1,665th game against LSSU, breaking a 31-year-old school career hit record. She currently has 1,678 pieces.
This record has stood since Andrea Gommans set it in 1993 during the Northern volleyball team’s back-to-back national championship wins in 1993 and 1994. The Wildcats were also national runner-up in 1992 and 1995.
“Getting the sweep at home meant a lot to us and I’m really proud of Jackie for breaking a 30-year record,” NMU head coach Mike Rozier said in NMU Sports previewing the weekend. said in an informational news release. “We had some memorable matchups (against Michigan Tech), so we have to be ready.
“They’ve never been in our gym, so we have to use that to our advantage,” he added, adding that the improvements and expansion of Vanderment Arena, which was dedicated a month ago talked about.
Tech (8-5 overall) is trailing the Wildcats at 4-2 in the GLIAC, while President Roosevelt has struggled in GLIAC openers, going 1-13 and 0-6. There is.
Last season, Northern won two of three games against the Huskies, including a five-set come-from-behind victory in the only match played at Marquette.
Not only is Smith capping off a stellar career, he’s in the midst of a big season with double-digit kills in 12 of 13 games, including a career-high 27 kills against Truman State, the most by a GLIAC player. is. Any game this fall.
Smith, who ranks second in the conference with 207 kills, surpassed 1,000 career digs earlier this season, becoming the 18th NMU player to accomplish that feat. Current teammate Kayleigh Ballage currently holds 921, so she could be number 19.
Wildcat Allie Barlow leads all conference setters with 516 assists and is second in the league with 24 aces.
And libero Liesl Haugen leads NMU with 199 digs, which ranks third in the GLIAC.
They contributed significantly throughout the season, especially last weekend when Mackenzie Gruner and Megan Mayer combined for 38 kills in two games, with Meyer picking up 21 kills.
Meyer leads the Northern team with 25 blocks, Gruner has 24, Meyer’s .376 attack percentage ranks fourth in the league, and her 950 kills puts her within range of reaching 1,000 in that statistic. be.
The last time the Wildcats and Huskies met was in the GLIAC quarterfinals, when MTU won at Houghton. This fall, junior Meg Raab led Tech with 169 kills, and sophomore Amelia Umbers had 138 kills.
Roosevelt’s only win of the season was a four-set victory over former conference member Malone, as the Lakers have lost 12 straight games, all three-set sweeps.
Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.
Northern Michigan University’s center Mackenzie Gruner extends her arm as Saginaw Valley State University’s Sage Schumacher during the third set of a GLIAC volleyball game at Vanderment Arena in Marquette on Tuesday. (Black uniform, left) and Sedona Kuhn’s defense and scored this spike, scoring a goal. Friday, October 4, 2024. Aiming for the Wildcats are, from left, Liesl Haugen, Jacqueline Smith, and Allie Barlow. (Photo by Darryl T. Jarvinen) Center Mackenzie Gruner of Northern Michigan University with arms outstretched meets black-clad Sage Schumacher of Saginaw Valley State University during the third set of GLIAC volleyball. He spiked his way through Sedona Kuhn’s defense and scored the goal Friday at Vanderment Arena in Marquette. The Wildcats’ players to watch are, from left, Liesl Haugen, Jacqueline Smith, and Allie Barlow. (Photo by Darryl T. Jarvinen) Center Mackenzie Gruner of Northern Michigan University with arms outstretched meets black-clad Sage Schumacher of Saginaw Valley State University during the third set of GLIAC volleyball. The game in which Sedona Kuhn spiked through the defense and scored the goal will take place on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at Vanderment Arena in Marquette. The Wildcats’ players to watch are, from left, Liesl Haugen, Jacqueline Smith, and Allie Barlow. (Photo by Darryl T. Jarvinen)
Northern Michigan University’s Lysl Haugen plays the ball after digging it incorrectly during the second set of a GLIAC volleyball game against Saginaw Valley State University at Vanderment Arena in Marquette on Friday. I kept it at. (Photo by Darryl T. Jarvinen) Northern reacts to Megan Meyer’s three straight aces in the first set of a GLIAC volleyball game against Saginaw Valley State University on Friday at Vanderment Arena in Marquette. University of Michigan bench. (Photo by Darryl T. Jarvinen)
Saginaw Valley State University 63, NMU 14 ———————– Saturday at Superior…
Michigan Tech 4, Northern Michigan 3 —————– Saturday at Houghton…
