MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University volleyball Wildcats play their last two home games of the season this weekend.
Friday the 'Cats take on Lake Superior State University inside Vandament Arena, the match is set to start at 4 p.m.
A ring ceremony will take place before the match to congratulate the members of last year's 2020-21 GLIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship team.
Saturday, NMU volleyball takes on Northwood University at Vandament Arena at 2 p.m.
Senior Day for Northern seniors is also on Saturday.
Abby Fortune,
Alyssa Milski and
Lauren Caprini will be honored for their accomplishments and hard work during their time at NMU.
WEEKLY NOTES:
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can purchase tickets and follow the action using live stats and video.
Follow @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continued coverage throughout the week.
Friday VS. Lake Superior State
Live Stats:
https://nmuwildcats.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Video:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/nmu/
Saturday VS. Northwood
Live Stats:
https://nmuwildcats.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Video:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/nmu/
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 redshirt freshman
Jacqueline Smith is back for the Wildcats this season. The redshirt freshman 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 redshirt freshman, was No. 1 on the team and in the GLIAC in attacking percentage while leading the team in total blocks.
STAT LEADERS
On the leaderboard, this week fans can find three volleyball Wildcats in the top five of three different statistical categories.
Jacqueline Smith has remained in a top-five position on the conference leaderboard in three different categories again this week.
Starting with kills per set, Smith is ranked number three with a total of 3.79 kills per set. She is also third on the leaderboard for her number of kills totaling 307 on the season so far. Along with two other 'Cats, Smith has also found herself in the top five for service aces per set, coming in at number three with a mark of 0.48.
The volleyball 'Cats are dominating the statistical category of service aces per set this week as three of the top five spots are occupied by Wildcats.
Caylie Barlage remained at the top once again this week with a total of 0.51 aces per set.
Lizzy Stark has also found her way to the service aces per set leaderboard sitting at number five in the conference with a mark of 0.42.
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend the Wildcats took a hard 3-0 loss against long-time rival Michigan Tech.
NMU fought hard against the Huskies.
Lizzy Stark led the team in kills with a total of nine, and
Jacqueline Smith was right behind her with eight.
Lauren Van Remortel led the team in assists with a grand total of 22 for the match.
NMU VS LAKE SUPERIOR ST.
NMU has played Lake Superior State 107 times since their first match in 1974, with an overall record of 88-18-1 against the Lakers.
NMU VS NORTHWOOD
Northern Michigan and Northwood have an overall record of 49-26, The 'Cats hope to add another win this weekend.
