CANTON, Ohio – After losing its last two matches, the Northern Michigan University volleyball team got back to its winning ways at Malone University on Friday (Sept. 5) in the first meeting between the two schools. The Wildcats defeated the Pioneers 3-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup.

NMU (12-5, 5-3 GLIAC) took the first set, 25-20 before Malone came to take the second (25-17). After the break, the 'Cats won the final two sets (25-18 and 25-15) to take the match.

Junior Kalli Herron had a match-high 13 kills and senior Kalin Zimmerman led with 21 digs. Junior Lina Lopes and Herron each added 12 digs. Junior Sarah Hamilton and Lopes tallied 11 kills apiece. Junior setter Kellisha Harley had 40 assists. NMU finished the evening with a .130 kill percentage finishing the game with 47 kills.

For the Pioneers, Taylor Slauterbeck had 11 kills, while Diana Wallace had eight. Jackie Schwamberger led the team with 27 assists and 13 digs, with Slaugerbeck adding eight more. Malone had a .126 kill percentage.

NMU wraps up its two-match weekend road trip at Walsh University on Saturday for another first-ever meeting. Match time is set for 2 p.m. in North Canton, Ohio. Walsh defeated Michigan Tech 3-1 on Friday.