MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University volleyball team lost for the first time in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday (Sept. 28). The Wildcats were defeated by Ashland University in five sets from Vandament Arena.

NMU (9-4, 3-1 GLIAC) won the first two sets (25-23 and 25-11), before Ashland (9-3, 3-1 GLIAC) came from behind to take the next three (25-21, 25-18, 15-7).

Set one was battle of the defenses as the score was tied 12 times, and there were three lead changes, where the Wildcats were behind just twice. The Eagles led 23-22 before the Wildcats scored three straight. The set ended on a kill by senior Kalli Herron, one of her five kills for the set. Senior Lina Lopes added six kills in the set.

It was all NMU's show in the second set as the 'Cats went up 7-2 with five points on freshman Meghan Supple's serve, including three kills by senior Sarah Hamilton. Later in the set, NMU scored four points on Herron's serve to lead the Eagles by 10 (18-8). On NMU's next series, sophomore Alex Berger served on four points, with two service aces.

The third set proved to be the same battle as the opening set. Despite the Wildcats obtaining a lead in the set, they tied the score six different times. NMU was down 21-16, and was able to get within three points on two separate occasions before the Eagles took the set.

Ashland led all of set four. With the score tied at three, the Eagles managed to score four consecutive points on Shelley DeHenning's serve. From there, NMU was only able to get within as few as seven points.

In the final set, the Eagles set the tone by going up 3-0 before NMU got on the board and then scored four out of the next five points. The match closed out on a kill by Alli Cudworth.

Lopes led NMU with 14 kills and 13 digs. Hamilton added 12 kills with sophomore Lisa Studnicka and Berger each tallying 11 digs. Senior Kellisha Harley finished the evening with 41 assists.

For the Eagles, Cudworth led all players with 18 kills, and Casey Clark added 13. Marci Zegarac and Clark each had 14 digs and DeHenning had 11 with 48 assists.

NMU travels to Michigan Tech on Tuesday (Oct. 1) for its first GLIAC road match of the season.

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