MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan volleyball team topped Saginaw Valley State in four sets in its season finale Saturday afternoon at Vandament Arena.

After falling in a tight first set, 29-27, the Wildcats rallied to win the next three, 25-22, 27-25 and 25-21, to down the Cardinals, who had won nine of their past 10 matches entering the showdown.

Five Wildcats, including two seniors playing in their final collegiate game, reached the 10-kill plateau. Kayla Chosa paced Northern Michigan's attack with 16 kills and a season-best .577 hitting percentage.

In the first set, Saginaw Valley State took eight of 12 points to erase a four-point Wildcat lead and even the score at 18. After that, the teams were locked in a tie seven more times before the Cardinals won the final two points.

After the Wildcats took a 16-13 lead on the strength of a 5-1 run, the Cardinals responded with a 6-3 run to tie the second set at 19. The teams traded points before Northern Michigan pulled away with a 4-1 run to even the match at one.

Like the first, the third set went into extra points. The teams were tied eight times before the Wildcats strung together a 4-0 run to take a 13-9 edge. But Saginaw Valley State regrouped and gained a 17-16 lead by winning eight of the next 11 points.

After the Cardinals extended their lead to 23-21, Northern Michigan answered with a 3-1 run to tie the set at 24. The Wildcats ultimately took three of the next five points to seize a 2-1 lead in the match.

With the teams tied at eight in the fourth set, Northern Michigan put together an 8-4 run to pull ahead, 16-12. Saginaw Valley State drew within two points, at 17-15, with a 3-1 run, but the Wildcats built a 23-18 advantage with a 6-3 run. While the Cardinals battled back, a Bridget Bussell kill secured match point for Northern Michigan.

Madison Whitehead tied Chosa for the match high with 16 kills. Megan Crane (13), Autumn Monsma (13) and Bussell (11) also reached the double digits in kills. Crane's 13 kills set a career high in her final collegiate match.

Rachel Braunschweig set a career high with 28 digs. Jami Hogeboom tied her career high, accomplished on Oct. 15 against William Jewell, with 67 assists. It was her third 60-assist effort of the season.

Whitehead finished three kills shy of 1,000. A junior, she will have a chance to become the 16th Wildcat to reach the milestone in 2017.

The Wildcats finish the 2016 campaign with a 17-14 (8-9 GLIAC) record. They won their final four matches of the season.