Sports

Volleyball gets home opener wins

Lily Gouin, Sports Editor

October 2, 2025

HOME ADVANTAGE — Women’s volleyball hosts GLIAC opponents in final home matches of the season.

Over the weekend the NMU Wildcats volleyball team finally had their season home opener after being on the road the first month of the season. The wait was worth it as the Wildcats were able to get both home wins against two strong GLIAC teams. These are the first wins for the Wildcats since the season opener a month ago.

“It felt like we were building up to that moment for three weeks straight and just finally being able to get over the hump and take it was just the best…we were just so thrilled to be home and wanted to put on a show and I think we certainly did,” Assistant Coach Kam Duffield said.

First, the Cats hosted Parkside, upsetting the Rangers 3-2. Freshman outside hitter Kaylie Mclntosh came away helping the Cats with four kills, four digs, and three blocks. Fellow outside hitter, junior Sydney Bartels had 10 kills and 16 digs along with Kaysie Bakke who came up with four kills and five digs in the win over Parkside. Madison York had 11 kills in the game along with two digs, three kills, and one assist. Remi Madison a junior outside hitter, came away with nine digs for the Cats. The Wildcats fought hard and long for the win over Parkside winning the first set by two. The Cats were unable to win the next two sets, but found a way to dig deep for the last two sets, setting up the overall game win for the team.

“We started strong. Our defense and blocking was on and we weren’t making as big a run of errors as we were in previous weeks. And then obviously the second and third set we kind of took a step backwards honestly, I’m really really proud of them for their resilience and their ability to get through that moment…seeing them work their way through it mentally and physically was awesome…Remi Madison really stepped up in that back row and made some insane defensive plays. Like, couldn’t have been more proud of her,” Duffield said.

Coming off the high of the win over Parkside the team quickly reset as they set their sights on the next GLIAC team coming to town.

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The team was back on the court less than a day later, as this time they went up against Roosevelt. The Cats fought hard, holding Roosevelt to a 3-0 shutout, the first of the season for the Wildcats. The final scores from each of the sets was 26-24, 27-25 and finally, 25-22.

Senior middleback McKenzie Gruner came away from the shutout win with 15 kills, one dig, and three blocks. Fellow middleback sophomore Emilia Gulock had six kills and four blocks. Again Mclntosh added seven kills and four digs to the win.

“I think the Roosevelt match showed okay, this is a team that we should be better that we can beat…I think they just did a good job taking care of business…Emmy Gulak, I think had her breakthrough weekend this past week. I think we’ve really seen her rise to the occasion and her blocking and her offensive game. So, I’ve just been really impressed with her taking that moment and running with it. I’d also say like Kenzie Gruner, she’s been a steady presence, but she also had an awesome weekend,” Coach Duffield said.

This weekend the Wildcats are back on the road. The team will first compete against Saginaw Valley State on Friday, Oct. 3, before heading back up to the U.P. to take on Lake Superior State on Saturday. The Wildcats will take the court at home in three weeks.

“We’re on the road for three weeks straight. We’re about to do another three weeks on the road. Just understanding that we can prove we can do it. We did it this weekend. How do we take that success and repeat it?” Coach Duffield said.