MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan volleyball team returned to the win column with a 3-1 victory over Malone Friday night at Vandament Arena in front of 287 fans.

The Wildcats overcame a slow start and a 25-23 loss in the first set to soundly defeat the Pioneers, winning the next three sets by margins of 25-11, 25-12 and 25-11.

In the second set, Northern Michigan raced out to a 12-2 lead and never looked back, holding Malone to a -.174 hitting percentage and recording a .450 hitting percentage of its own.

In the third set, the Wildcats built an early 11-3 edge and kept the pressure up the rest of the way. The fourth set was more of the same, with Northern Michigan controlling the serve and running out to a quick 14-3 advantage behind long service runs by Alex Berger, Megan Dahl and Lisa Studnicka.

Overall, the Wildcats recorded a .271 hitting percentage and held Malone to -.062 hitting percentage. Northern Michigan posted a season-high 10 service aces in the contest, spread between Studnicka (6), Dahl (2) and Berger (2).

Studnicka led the team with 13 kills while Madison Whitehead recorded 12 and a .409 hitting percentage. Jami Hogeboom totaled 38 assists while Berger posted 17 digs.

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 11-6 (3-5 GLIAC). They return to action tomorrow when they host Walsh at 4 p.m.