The Northern Michigan
University Volleyball team split
a pair of home matches this
past weekend, falling to Saginaw
Valley State University (SVSU)
3-2 on Friday before defeating
Lake Superior State University
(LSSU) in another 3-2 decision
on Saturday evening, picking

up another important and hard-
fought GLIAC win in the process.

In Friday’s match, NMU
started well, taking an early 10-5
lead. However, SVSU was able to
tie the first set at 13 apiece, and for
the rest of the set, the two teams
traded leads back and forth. The
Wildcats were able to get the edge
in the end and took set one 25-
23. Northern also played a strong
second set, taking a 25-19 win to
go up 2-0.

The next two sets were
extremely close, with SVSU
winning both by scores of 25-23
and 25-21, respectively. In the
fifth and deciding set, NMU had
an early 5-2 lead, but the visitors
fought back and forced several
ties, eventually winning the final

two points to win the set 15-13
and the match 3-2.

Senior outside hitter Autumn
Monsma and junior middle hitter
Sarah Kuehn finished the match
with 16 kills each to co-lead the
team offensively. On defense,
senior defensive specialist Rachel
Braunschweig paced the Wildcats
with 18 digs.

The following game against
LSSU, the Wildcats started strong,
winning the opening set 25-15.
The Wildcats held an 18-10 lead
in the second set, but LSSU came
charging back to win the set 25-
23. NMU retook the lead in the
set score with a 25-17 win in the
third, but LSSU again was able
to fight hard and win the fourth
set 25-21, forcing a deciding fifth
frame. The Wildcats took an early
6-3 lead and didn’t look back,
winning the set 15-5 and the
match 3-2.

Monsma again led NMU’s
attack with 18 kills and showed
her defensive skill as well by
leading the team in digs with 28.
NMU will next be in action at
7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, when
they travel to Houghton to take
on their rivals, the Michigan Tech
University Huskies.