The NMU volleyball team split their matches last weekend, falling to the No. 2 position in the GLIAC North Division. This weekend, the ‘Cats will finish out their regular season with two conference road games.
The Wildcats (17-9 overall, 10-4 GLIAC) gained a victory on Oct. 30 against Finlandia University (11-14) in three sets with scores of 25-9, 25-13, and 25-9. Wildcat senior Amy Andersen-Goldsworthy led the team with 12 kills, followed by redshirt-freshman middle blocker Stephanie Bahrman with six.
NMU head coach Dominic Yoder said Bahrman’s performance shows her improvements athletically.
“Her performance last weekend was on par with her development. It’s what we expected from her,” Yoder said.
Bahrman said being redshirted last season was not easy, but that it was certainly for the best.
“When I came in, I was really young and behind skill-wise from most of the girls, so this gave me another year to catch up with everyone and learn new things, and I love it,” Bahrman said. “It was difficult, it’s hard to go from being the star of your team to just practicing and never seeing the court during a game but I learned to deal with it, and it worked out in my favor.” Bahrman said.
She added that last week’s opportunity to play felt nerve-racking but thrilling at the same time.
“It was exciting to get in. It kind of happened mid-game, unexpectedly,” she said. “I was very, very nervous. I just tried to do my best and shake off the nerves as best I could and just play my game. At first I was tense, but after I hit a couple balls I was back to normal.”
For Bahrman, her appearance on Saturday was another opportunity for her to prove her worth, she said.
“When I do get a chance to play I want to do the best I can to show that I can compete,” Bahrman said.
On Oct. 31, the ‘Cats were defeated by Michigan Tech (13-12 overall, 9-5 GLIAC) in a drawn-out 5 set match with scores of 25-14, 19-25, 23-25, 25-19 and 15-7. Senior captain Mandie Meyer tied her career-high for kills with 24.
Yoder said the ‘Cats could have been a little more insistent in wanting the win, because the team was up 2-1 in set 4 but could not clinch the victory.
“We were ahead in set four and then we just lost the lead because we weren’t passing and we weren’t being very aggressive defensively,” he said. “We had some breakdown in serve reception and floor defense.”
On Nov. 6, the ‘Cats will head to Allendale, Mich. to take on the Grand Valley State University Lakers (15-10 overall, 10-4 GLIAC) at 7 p.m.
Yoder said the Lakers and the Wildcats are at-odds because both teams are tied for second in the GLIAC North Division.
“Grand Valley is in the hunt for the North Division title and they have to win two games to tie with Saginaw Valley and we have to do the same to tie with Saginaw Valley, so we’re both in the same battle. We’re trying to compete for the rights to host [a first round GLIAC tournament game],” Yoder said.
In the final game of the regular season on Nov. 7, the Wildcats will head to Big Rapids, Mich. to play the Ferris State University Bulldogs (18-9 overall, 9-5 GLIAC) at 2 p.m.
Yoder said that if the Wildcats want to have a shot at hosting the first round tournament game, both games this weekend are must-wins.
“Winning one game could potentially give us an opportunity [to host], but we’d have to count on other people losing and we just don’t want to do that; we want to take care of business on our side,” he said.
The GLIAC Tournament begins Nov. 11.