As the snow hits and fall fades into winter, the fall sports season comes to an end. This weekend will be the final regular season game for the NMU volleyball team, with hopes of a postseason run next week. Those hopes got a lot brighter after this weekend as the Wildcats swept both GLIAC teams they hosted, clinching their spot in the GLIAC Championship Tournament. Heading into the final weekend of the regular season the Wildcats sit at 13-13.
“We went through a lot of very difficult times this season… now we’re starting to play the way we’re capable of playing. And so I think the motivation to show up every day is there because we’re seeing the fruits of our labor pay off…I think this team is hungry to keep playing,” Head Coach Mike Lozier said.
This previous weekend, the Wildcats defended their home court, knocking down both Ferris State and Davenport. Earlier in the season, the Wildcats fell to both Ferris and Davenport. When the ‘Cats visited both teams, the Cast fell 0-3 in each game.
In the first game of the weekend, the Wildcats took on top-ranked team in the GLIAC, Ferris State, getting the win over the Bulldogs 3-2. In the first set of the game, the Wildcats got the win 26-24 but fell in the second before coming away with the win in the third 27-25. The Wildcats looked to close out in four sets, but Ferris found a way to get the fourth set win over the ‘Cats 25-13, bringing up the fifth and final set. In the fifth, the ‘Cats took the set and overall game in a close set, 16-14.
In the win over the Bulldogs, junior outside hitter Remi Madison came away with 12 digs in the game. Senior middle back McKenzie Gruner ended the game with 15 kills, two digs, seven blocks and one assist. Sophomore Madison York came away from the game with 14 kills, four digs and two blocks. Junior setter Allie Barlow recorded two kills, 13 digs, four blocks and 50 assists.
“I think a month ago people wanted to play Northern Michigan. I think now everyone’s afraid to come play Northern Michigan, especially in our gym,” Coach Lozier said.
Coming off the win, the Wildcats moved to the next game as they hosted Davenport. Again, the ‘Cats saw success, winning three sets and holding Davenport to one. In this game, the team went fell in the first set, 26-24, but then won the next three 25-18, 25-23 and 25-21.
In this game, junior outside hitter Sydney Bartels earned 14 kills, 21 digs and one block in the game. Liesl Haugen, junior libero, came away from the win with 38 digs and three assists. Sophomore middle back Emilia Gulock helped the team to the win with five kills, two digs and three blocks. Junior outside hitter Kaysie Bakke came away from the game with 13 kills and two digs.
“There are people that are rising to the occasion but our ultimate success will be if we spread the wealth, the way we did against Davenport,” Coach Lozier said.
Next, the Wildcats will play their final two games of the regular season. First, the Wildcats will host Lake Superior State on Friday at 6 p.m. Earlier this season, when the ‘Cats traveled to Lake State, the ‘Cats walked out with a 3-0 win.
Following the Lake State game on Friday, the team will host Saginaw Valley State for the final game of the season. The last Wildcat volleyball regular season game will begin at 3 p.m on Saturday. Following this weekend, the team will move into the postseason, entering the GLIAC tournament, with matchups being announced next week.
“To sit here and think anything less than us, you know, pushing to win a GLIAC tournament championship, I think would be foolish on our part and that’s how we’re going to approach it… So we just got to kind of try to find a way to harness that and keep it going,” Coach said.
