UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University volleyball team fell to Saginaw Valley State University 3-1 in their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) regular-season finale.

SET ONE 

In similar fashion to the Friday match, The 'Cats opposition struck first in the opening frame.

NMU fell behind 12-5 due to runs from the Cardinals building up momentum for the home team.

The Wildcats pulled within four thanks to a 3-0 run that concluded with a Jacqueline Smith kill from Lauren Van Remortel.

Another 3-0 streak later in the set pulled NMU within two thanks to two kills from Lizzy Stark and two Smith kills.

A tie at 20-20 marked a turning of the tide. As the Wildcats only allowed three more points for SVSU the rest of the set.

Set one was won by the Wildcats on a 5-1 run that put the score at 25-23.

SET TWO

Keeping up the theme of being similar to the last match, set two began with an Ania Hyatt kill. 

The teams traded the lead five times to get to the 9-8 point.

After a quick Saginaw Valley score, the 'Cats went on a 5-0 run featuring kills from Smith and Stark to go up 14-9.

The NMU lead held until the 24-24 point when the Cardinals tied and then took control of the frame.

Two set points were fended off by the Wildcats by Smith kills, but in the end it was not enough.

SVSU took set two 28-26.

SET THREE

The home team opened the third with a 9-1 run.

Hyatt ended the streak by the Cardinals with a Van Remortel assisted kill.

NMU put together a 4-0 run late to get back into the set. Two SVSU errors and two kills from Stark pulled the 'Cats within eight late in the frame.

It was Saginaw Valley who won the set, taking it 25-14.

SET FOUR

The Wildcats scored four of the first five points of set four. Stark had two kills in the beginning part of the frame and Caylie Barlage added a service ace.

NMU built on the lead with a 4-0 run to go up 14-8 in the middle of the fourth.

Unfortunately, a 6-1 run happened at the best time for the opposition and secured the match for the Cardinals with a 25-21 set win.

STAT LEADERS

Jacqueline Smith led all players for both teams with 20 kills. She also had a team-high 15 digs to secure the double-double.

Lizzy Stark was next for the Wildcats in both kills (14) and digs (13) to earn herself and the NMU team another double-double. 

Lauren Van Remortel had 40 assists for the visiting team as well as eight digs.

UP NEXT

The Wildcats await the conclusion of the GLIAC regular season to find out seeding and location for postseason contests.