BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The 2018 campaign came to end as Northern Michigan University Volleyball fell to #8 Ferris state University in the final Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup of the season.

SET SCORES

The hosts took the first set 25-15. In the second set, the teams traded leads, as FSU was leading 13-10 but NMU responded with a six-point run to lead 16-13.  However, the Bulldogs answered and tied it at 16-16. The Wildcats responded and eventually held a 23-20 advantage.  but FSU showed why they were undefeated in the GLIAC and ranked #8 nationally as they rallied to tie the score at 25-25.  The teams traded points until the Bulldogs held on to win the set 30-28.

The third set saw FSU gradually pull away to take a 25-20 win and a 3-0 match victory.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS

Senior Autumn Monsma (Grand Haven, Mich.) led the team with 11 kills. Senior Maggie Liebeck (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) added eight. Senior Lynzi Svoboda (Minneapolis, Minn./Minneapolis Southwest) posted 25 assists.

Senior Rachel Braunschweig (Alamo, Calif./San Ramon Valley) notched three aces while Monsma chipped in with two.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

Braunsweig also led the defense with 16 digs. Junior Gabriela Martinez (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Colegio Marista/Rio Piedras) tallied nine with freshman Alli Yacko (Oak Lawn, Ill.) finishing with eight.

Junior Sarah Kuehn (Green Bay, Wis./De Pere) tallied five blocks. Senior Jessica Skonning (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) had three. 

FINISHING THE YEAR

The Wildcats finish the season at 16-11 and 5-11 in the GLIAC.  The Wildcats started the year strong, winning their first nine matches before a midseason slump.  NMU saw five five-set matches and came away with victories in three of them. It is also the fourth season in a row the team won at least 15 matches in a season.