MARQUETTE, Mich. -- Northern Michigan University volleyball played tight in a non-conference match-up against Cedarville University but were unable to find set wins late as they fell 25-18, 24-26, 25-23, 26-24.  The loss drops the Wildcats to 2-5 overall on the season.

The match started out sloppy for both sides as five of the first nine points were awarded via an attacking error or a service error.  After the slow start, both sides settled in and Cedarville found themselves up 8-6.  The Yellow Jackets used some miscues by NMU to go on a 9-2 run and take a 17-8 advantage.   The Wildcats would manage to pull out a 7-3 run late to bring the set to 22-17 and build some momentum for the next set, but the deficit built early was too much as Cedarville closed the set out at 25-18.

The second set was a tight affair at the beginning, as the teams battled to a 15-15 draw.  NMU would go on a quick 4-1 run to take a 19-16 lead late in the set but Cedarville managed to answer right back with an 8-3 run putting them at set point with a tally of 24-22.  Facing a potential two set deficit, the Wildcats bared down to battle off a pair of set points and bring the game to a 24-24 tie.  The Wildcats then continued to use their momentum as junior middle hitter Anna Aycock and freshman middle hitter Madison Whitehead used kills to give NMU the second set at 26-24.

NMU came out in the third set fast jumping out to a 3-0 lead.  This meager three point lead proved to be the largest lead over the course of the entire set as the Yellow Jackets and Wildcats played back and forth with side-outs regularly.  The set saw 11 ties and a total of six lead changes.   The teams found themselves at a 23-23 draw when a pair of NMU errors ended the set in favor of Cedarville at 25-23.

The fourth set started out nearly identical as the third set as the teams traded points until Cedarville found themselves leading 8-6.  The Yellow Jackets pulled away with a 7-3 run putting the score at 15-9.  The Wildcats played determined to force a 5th set, however, and didn't allow Cedarville to pull away.  At 21-15 Yellow Jackets, the Wildcats made their move and went on a 7-1 run that put the game at 22-22.  The set then found itself tied at 23 and 24 before Cedarville closed out the match using a Wildcat attacking error followed by a kill to end the final set 26-24.

"Kayla Chosa, Anna Aycock and Alex Berger all had really good games for us tonight," commented Head Coach Dominic Yoder after the match.  "The team fought hard and two point losses are always challenging.  Our team struggled with a very good serving team in Cedarville.  Serve receive was the main struggle for us not being able to gain any offensive consistency.  Blocking was a huge strength for us.  We'll continue the journey to Lake Erie tomorrow and get back on track."

Aycock led the charge for the Wildcats with her game high 16 kills.  Junior outside hitter Lisa Studnicka and freshman middle hitter Kayla Chosa both finished with double digit kills.  The Wildcats totaled 12 kills as a team with Chosa and Whitehead leading the way with five block assists each.  Junior libero Alex Berger managed to collect 22 digs and Studnicka followed her with 18.  Freshman setter Meghan Seymour assisted on 37 of the 60 NMU kills, while also recording 10 digs.

NMU returns to GLIAC play tomorrow night, Friday, Sept. 19 when they take on Lake Erie College at 7 p.m.  The Wildcats will then travel to Ashland for a 2 p.m. meeting Saturday, Sept. 20.