AURORA, Ill. — The Northern Michigan volleyball team went 2-0 at the Mizuno Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover Tournament Friday.

The Wildcats downed both Maryville and Malone in four sets to improve to 12-9 on the season.

In their first match, Northern Michigan dispatched Maryville, winning the final three by 25-20, 25-18 and 25-22 margins.

"We served very well in the last three sets to help us capture the win," Yoder said. "Maggie Liebeck and Megan Crane did a nice job for us offensively, and Jami Hogeboom set a very nice offense."

In its 25-23 first set loss, Northern Michigan recorded a .485 hitting percentage and did not commit an attacking error. After the Wildcats ran out to a 10-6 advantage, the Saints used a 10-6 run to tie the match at 16. The teams traded points from that point on until Maryville won three of the last five to take a 1-0 lead.

In the second set, Northern Michigan strung together three 3-0 runs. The last of those runs gave the Wildcats a late 22-15 advantage, which proved to be enough despite a late Saint rally.

The Wildcats won eight of the first 10 points en route to their third set victory, their most commanding of the match. After Maryville rallied to draw within three, at 10-7, they rattled off an 8-0 run to put the set out of reach. During that run, Autumn Monsma posted two service aces.

Northern Michigan rallied from a 10-5 deficit to close out the match in the fourth set. After the Wildcats went on a 10-5 run of their own to even the score at 15, the Saints responded with a 3-0 run to regain a slight lead. Northern Michigan promptly erased that advantage, and took its first lead of the set, with a 5-0 run of its own. While Maryville ultimately took a 22-20 lead, the Wildcats won the final five points, with a block by Hogeboom and Madison Whitehead ending the match.

Whitehead (13), Marta Fraga Guntin (12) and Kayla Chosa (10) hit the double digits in kills. Rachel Braunschweig led the Wildcats in digs (19) while Hogeboom recorded 46 assists.

In their second match against Malone, after dropping a tight 31-29 decision in the first set, Northern Michigan won the next three in commanding fashion: 25-16, 25-20 and 25-11.

"This was another good win for us," Yoder said. "Kayla and Madison had monster nights, and our left-side hitters Marta and Maggie were very good on offense. Serving runs were key for us in the last three sets. Rachel also gave us some solid defense."

In the second set, with the teams tied at 11 apiece, the Wildcats went on a 7-0 run that the Pioneers could not erase. The third set played out similarly; with Malone nursing a 16-11 lead, Northern Michigan used a 10-0 run to build a 21-16 advantage and never looked back.

The Wildcats carried the momentum from their comeback into the fourth set, winning the first four points and then racing out to a 17-7 lead.

Chosa (16), Whitehead (15) and Fraga Guntin (15) all exceeded 15 kills while Liebeck chipped in 13. Braunschweig (18), Fraga Guntin (12) and Monsma (11) hit the double digits in digs, and Hogeboom posted 51 assists.

The Wildcats posted a .381 hitting percentage in the match and limited Malone to a meager .174 mark.

Northern Michigan closes out the Midwest Region Crossover Tournament, taking on William Jewell at 2 p.m.