The NMU women’s volleyball team had a strong showing last weekend at the GLIAC/GLVC cross-over tournament. Going up against three very competitive teams, one team proved too much for the Wildcats as they suffered their first loss of the season. Although the ’Cats official record drops to 17-1, they still remain undefeated in the GLIAC at 11-0.
The Wildcats first took the Rockhurst University Hawks, but remained vigilant, taking away the first set, 25-17. But Rockhurst would not take the loss lightly as the team fought its way back to win set two, 22-25.
The ’Cats sealed the deal against the Hawks, winning the third set by 25-9 and the fourth set 26-24. With one win under their belts, the Wildcats would head out once more to their final destination, Aurora, Ill., where two tough teams awaited their arrival.
The Wildcats next took on the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons, who won the first set, 22-25. The ’Cats, being in this situation before, proved their dominance by winning the next three sets 25-23, 25-21, and 25-22, leaving only one target standing in their way from ultimate victory.
However, the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds proved too much for the Wildcats as the Greyhounds swept them in three straight sets 25-15, 25-22, and 25-15, giving the ’Cats their first loss of the season.
Emma Wolfe led the ’Cats in total kills scoring 41, followed up by Sami Vierk scoring 37 and Ana (Lina) Lopes scoring 31. Abby Lovell recorded over 130 assists during the entire weekend as well. Both Wolfe and Lovell were named to the All-Tournament Team in recognition of their outstanding performance on the court.
Head coach Dominic Yoder said the team did well overall in the tournament but the team needs to work through the loss.
“We went up against three very good teams, and it was tough to get our first loss this season,” Yoder said. “Indianapolis had lots of energy when they competed, and they never stopped competing. This will definitely be a learning experience, and we have to just get our heads back in the game and focus on the future. Leave the past in the past.”
Freshman left-side hitter Ana Lopes agreed that the Indianapolis team gave the ’Cats a struggle, but their focus needs to be on other things.
“I think that a loss is like any other loss in all of its aspects, we just have to try and learn something from it,” Lopes said. “We have to take advantage of the fact that these last three games are at home and that our fans will be supporting us. So we need to make the best out of this situation and continue our season to the best of our abilities and never look back.”
The Wildcats will be squaring off this weekend in three home games against teams they have already beaten this season. The team will first meet Ferris State on Friday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m., followed by Saginaw Valley State on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m., and finally Grand Valley State on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. All three teams would love nothing more than to return the favor of defeat as the Wildcats did to them on their home courts.
Freshman middle-hitter Sarah Hamilton said that though the ’Cats have beaten all three teams, they will still need to work hard for these victories.
“We have three big games this weekend and we’ve beaten each team already; however, each team has grown and developed since we last met,” Hamilton said. We are still undefeated in the GLIAC and intend to keep it that way. “We have our goals in mind and nothing is going to stop us from achieving what we are capable of.”
