Despite another tough weekend and a challenging start to the season the ‘Cats are still finding positives to take away as they prepare for the upcoming GLIAC schedule. Head Coach Michael Lozier acknowledged the significant challenges posed by injuries leading to the absence of key players, affecting both the team’s performance and leadership dynamics.

“[We’re] missing a couple of key components,” Lozier said. “Not necessarily even from a production standpoint, but from a leadership standpoint on the floor.”

Lozier expressed pride in the team’s resilience and growth over this challenging stretch. Following a less than ideal performance Friday night against Southern New Hampshire, the team rebounded with determination to compete fiercely against Duluth, the seventh-ranked team in the nation.

“I thought that throughout the weekend, they showed progress,” Lozier said. “And that’s really important.”

The early season struggles also included losses against top-ranked opponents, leading to questions about the team’s confidence. Lozier acknowledged that the challenging start was anticipated but continued to highlight the importance of learning valuable lessons from these initial matchups.

Lozier offered insights on the Wildcats’ next opponents for this week, Davenport and Grand Valley. He acknowledged Davenport’s well-coached approach and their scrappy style of play, while stressing the importance of countering the Grand Valley team’s physicality and size, which could give the ‘Cats an opportunity to work on their defensive game.

Lozier also highlighted the standout performances of individual players. Senior Meghan Meyer is known for her consistency up the middle and all-around contributions on the court. Freshman Liesl Haugen’s exceptional serving and defensive skills, along with sophomore McKenzie Gruner’s impactful presence in the middle, were highlighted as well. Lozier also acknowledged the potential within the rotating freshmen on the outside.

Despite facing formidable opponents early in the season, Lozier underscored the importance of maintaining confidence and using these challenges as learning experiences.

“You hope that they don’t … shake you too much, because those were good teams,” Lozier said.

The Wildcats remain determined as they approach the upcoming GLIAC schedule, with the belief that their growth and development will contribute to a successful season ahead. The ‘Cats play their next game at home against Davenport University on Friday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m.