HOUGHTON, Mich. – Northern Michigan University Volleyball had two matches on the second day of the Keweenaw Classic, but fell to Upper Iowa University and #9 Southwest Minnesota State University in a busy day of action.

SET SCORES

In the day's first match Upper Iowa took the first set 25-15 but the Wildcats rebounded to win the second set 25-22. However, the Peacocks managed to take a match victory by winning the next two sets, 25-20 and 25-12.

Against ranked SMSU, the Wildcats faced a 22-18 deficit but were able to fight back to tie the set at 24-24. However, the Mustangs scored the next two points to win 26-24. NMU dropped the second set 25-15.

In the third set, the Wildcats again faced a deficit as they were down 17-6 but rallied back with a 14-4 rally to tie the set at 21-21. They then powered through for a 26-24 third set win. SMSU took a 25-20 fourth set victory to win the match.

ON THE OFFENSE

Sophomore Lizzy Stark (Minneapolis, Minn.) paced the attack as she amassed 30 kills through the two matches. Sophomore Hailey Wickstrom (Calumet, Mich.) notched 24 kills and led the team with a .358 hitting percentage. Against SMSU, the duo both had 13 kills each.

Senior Sarah Kuehn (Green Bay, Wis.) posted 14 kills on the day.

Freshman Abigail Durecki (South Lyon, Mich.) tallied eight kills and also led the team with three aces. Sophomore Alli Yacko (Oak Lawn, Ill.) added two aces.

Freshman Lauren Van Remortel (Carmel, Ind.) finished with 36 assists. Sophomore Abby Fortune (Appleton, Wis.) was right behind with 34 assists.

THE DEFENSE

Sophomore Lauren Caprini (St. Charles, Ill.) tallied a team-best 29 digs. Close behind her was Stark with 25 digs. Senior Cheyanna Pyka (Merrill, Wis.) aided the defense with 21 digs. Yacko also had 16 with Fortune adding 11.  

At the net, Kuehn accumulated 11 total blocks through two matches. Durecki posted seven blocks total, six coming against SMSU.

UP NEXT

The Wildcats fall to 1-2 to start the season while Upper Iowa is now 2-0 and SMSU moves to 2-1. NMU returns Saturday evening for the fourth and final match of the Keweenaw Classic and looks to even their even when they take the University of Minnesota Crookston.