Box Score MARQUETTE, Mich. – In a thrilling match lasting over two hours, the Northern Michigan University volleyball team defeated the University of Findlay, 3-2, in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference quarterfinal match from Vandament Arena on Wednesday (Nov.20) evening. NMU improves to 23-9 overall and 16-3 in the GLIAC with the win.
The Wildcats took sets one, three and five, 25-20, 25-23 and 18-16, respectfully. The Oilers won the second and fourth sets, 25-22 and 26-24.
"We played five tough matches tonight and the girls fought for every point," stated head coach Dominic Yoder. "Even after being down by five in the final set, we were able to get refocused."
In set one, NMU led by just three points (9-6) going into senior Kellisha Harley's serve. On the serve, the Wildcats scored on three kills by seniors Kalli Herron and Lina Lopes and freshman Alex Larsen to increase the lead to six (12-6). On Findlay's next serving series, Herron notched a kill to end the serve, and gainer her 1,000th career kill to the Wildcats a 13-7 lead. From there, NMU held its ground to take the set 25-20.
"It feels great to get the career milestone," said Herron. "I owe it to having a great setter and teammates."
The second set consisted of four ties early in the game. The final tied score was at nine when the Oilers had two back-to-back kills to go up 11-9. Despite the Oilers' lead, the Wildcats kept within four points or less for the remainder of the set. This included a kill by Herron on Findlay's first set point to put the set within two points (24-22) for NMU. However, a kill by Findlay closed out the set, 25-22.
The third set was a back and forth battle with 13 ties and 10 lead changes. With the score tied at 23 on Findlay's serve, Nelson had a kill to put NMU up, 24-23. Harley served the set point with an ace to take the set, 25-23.
Set four was the same story as the previous sets, with multiple ties and lead changes, proving to be anyone's game. Findlay led 24-23 when the Oilers had a setting error to allow NMU to tie the game at 24. On Megan Dahl's serve, the Oilers tallied a kill and caught NMU on an error for the set win at 26-24.
Findlay opened the final set by jumping out to a 6-1 lead, but the Wildcats came back to tie the game at 10 and then again at 12. NMU held a 13-12 advantage after kills by Harley and freshman Bridget Bussell, before the Oilers tied the game at 13.
Lopes answered back with a kill to regain the 14-13 lead and put NMU at match point. On NMU's first match point, the Oilers returned the serve with a kill to tie the game at 14. After a Wildcat attacking error the Oilers had a match point of their own at 15-14 but back to back s by Herron and Bussell put NMU up 16-15. On the second Wildcat match point Findlay responded again with a kill to tie the game at 16. After a tied score at 16, a kill by Hamilton followed by a block also by Hamilton, gave NMU the match win, 18-16.
"It was a collective effort by everyone, especially with our seniors working together in the end," added Yoder.
Herron led NMU with 26 kills on the evening, while Lopes added 18 and Hamilton had 11. As a team, the Wildcats had 75 total kills for a .203 attack percentage. Lopes led the defense on 22 digs, with sophomore Lisa Studnicka (17), Berger (16) and Harley (12) adding double digit digs. Harley set up the offense with 60 assists.
For the Oilers, Hannah Tong led with 18 kills, Mackenzie Vorst had 13, and Danielle Taflinger added 10. Brittany Hall led in digs with 17, Amanda Calhoun had 11 and Samantha Granger had 10. Calhoun also contributed with 57 assists.
NMU continues play on Saturday (Nov. 23) in the GLIAC semi-final against Ashland in Allendale, Mich. The other semi-final match-up will be between Northwood and Grand Valley State. The Wildcats last visit to the GLIAC semi-finals was in 2010.
