MARQUETTE, Mich. – Northern Michigan University Volleyball returns to Vandament Arena this weekend and will host Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foes Ashland University and Wayne State University.

WEEKLY NOTES

FOLLOW ALONG

Keep up with how the Wildcats are doing this weekend and in the future by following @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter.

Friday vs. Ashland, 4:30 pm Friday

VIDEO: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/nmu/

LIVE STATS: http://nmuwildcats.com/sports/wvball/2019-20/boxscores/20191011_1u0j.xml

AUDIO: https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirruscontent/WUPZ

Saturday vs. Wayne State, 4 pm Saturday

VIDEO: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/nmu/

LIVE STATS: http://nmuwildcats.com/sports/wvball/2019-20/boxscores/20191012_c9xh.xml

AUDIO: https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirruscontent/WUPZ

LAST TIME OUT

The Wildcats took on #16 Ferris State University Friday night but fell to the ranked Bulldogs 3-0. On Saturday, NMU visited Northwood University and saw a close match with each set decided by three points or fewer, but the Wildcats held on to capture their first sweep of the GLIAC season by defeating the Timberwolves 3-0.

HITTING SUCCESS

Sophomore Lizzy Stark (Minneapolis, Minn.) continues her success this season as she is ranked in the league's top five for both kills per set and total kills. Entering this week, Stark has averaged 3.71 kills per set to place her fourth in the GLIAC.  She is tied for third in kills for the season as she has amassed 215 kills so far.

NEWCOMER IMPACT

This year's squad features many first year members who have made an impact to the team. Up front, freshman Abigail Durecki (South Lyon, Mich.) is third on the team with 134 kills this season, averaging 2.23 per set. She also has a team-best .313 hitting percentage this year along with 17 aces to also lead the team. She is second on the team with 45 blocks. 

Freshman Lauren Van Remortel (Carmel, Ind.) leads the Wildcats with 552 assists. Sophomore Lauren Caprini (St. Charles, Ill.) leads the defense with 203 digs with an average of 3.38 per set.

LAST WEEK'S LEADERS

This past weekend, Stark led the team with 23 kills in the two matches. Senior Sarah Kuehn (Green Bay, Wis.) added 16 while sophomore Hailey Wickstrom (Calumet, Wis.) had 15.

On defense, sophomore Alli Yacko (Oak Lawn, Ill.) had 31 digs with Stark and freshman Madeline Crowley (Green Bay, Wis.) posting 20 digs each.  Kuehn posted five blocks.  

NMU VERSUS ASHLAND

The Wildcats are 19-12 against Ashland but fell in last season's meeting. The Eagles are currently 6-1 in the GLIAC and 14-3 overall. Last weekend, Ashland defeated Lake Superior State University before falling to Saginaw Valley State University 3-1.

NMU VERSUS WAYNE STATE

This will be the first meeting between Wayne State and the Wildcats in Marquette since the 2016 season. NMU holds a 40-20 all-time lead with the teams splitting the last two meetings. Wayne State split last weekend, falling to Saginaw Valley and defeating Lake State. WSU heads to Michigan Technological University on Friday night.