MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University volleyball Wildcats have an action-packed weekend ahead of them as they compete in the 2021 Midwest Region Crossover Tournament in Hammond, Ind. hosted by the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

The Wildcats have three matches this weekend. On Friday NMU takes on Southwest Baptist at 3:30 p.m. and has two matches on Saturday facing Maryville University (Mo.) at 10:30 a.m., and to close out the weekend they will go against Ursuline College at 5 p.m.

WEEKLY NOTES

FOLLOW ALONG

Fans can follow the action using live stats and video.

Follow @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continued coverage throughout the week.

Tournament Central

Link: https://greatmidwestsports.com/sports/2021/7/6/VB_0706213710.aspx

PRESEASON POLLS

The Wildcats were picked second in the GLIAC North Division with 50 points, finishing one point behind Michigan Tech and 16 points ahead of Northwood. NMU received two first-place votes in the conference poll.

KEY RETURNERS

2020-21 GLIAC Freshman of the Year and GLIAC Tournament MVP sophomore Jacqueline Smith is back for the Wildcats this season. The sophomore led the team in total kills, kills per set, points, and points per set.

GLIAC First Team student-athletes Lauren Van Remortel and Meghan Meyer also return to the NMU roster. Van Remortel, the team's setter, led the team in assists last season. Meyer, a sophomore, was No. 1 on the team and in the GLIAC in attacking percentage while leading the team in total blocks.

STAT LEADERS

This week three Wildcats made another appearance on the GLIAC leaderboard in four different statistical categories.

Jacqueline Smith has remained in her top five positions on the conference leaderboard and is currently ranked third in kills per set with 3.84 and third in overall kills with a grand total of 223 

Caylie Barlage, with her third consecutive week of leaderboard appearances, holds her place of second overall in service aces per set with a mark of 0.53. 

Lizzy Stark makes her way on to the conference leaderboard currently ranked fifth in service aces per set with a mark of 0.40. 

LAST TIME OUT

Last weekend NMU traveled to their rivals in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Technological University where they fell short against the Huskies giving up three sets. 

The 'Cats put up a great fight on Saturday, with Jacqueline Smith racking in 11 kills and Ania Hyatt hitting a new career-high in solo blocks with four.

NMU VS SOUTHWEST BAPTIST

Friday's match-up against Southwest Baptist will be the first in program history for the Wildcats.

NMU VS MARYVILLE

Northern Michigan has played Maryville once before in 2016 when they beat the Saints 3-1.

NMU VS URSULINE

Closing the weekend for the Wildcats they will have their first match in program history against Ursuline College.