INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - On day two of the UIndy Volleyball Invitational, the Northern Michigan University volleyball team avenged their previous day with a sweep of Bemidji State 3-0 and a win over Cedarville University 3-1, Saturday afternoon.

MATCH #1 vs. BEMIDJI STATE

SET ONE

After dropping the first two points to the Beavers, NMU answered back to take the lead 3-2 with a pair of kills and a service ace. 

The two teams then traded points before the Wildcats clinched the 4-3 lead, one they would hold for the remainder of the set. 

Despite the Beavers' efforts, the Wildcats held off their challenge late in the opening set, including when they nearly tied things up 19-18. 

With a final set score of 25-22, the Wildcats saw Lizzy Stark post 14 attacks while Meghan Meyer led the team in kills with four. 

SET TWO

The two teams began the second set with the Beavers on serve. Following a service error by BSU, the Wildcats' Caylie Barlage fired a rocket ace over the net for the early 2-0 lead. 

Allowing the Beavers to get one back, the Wildcats would go on a four-point run to make it a 6-1 score. 

With momentum in its favor, NMU continued its push and maintained the large lead despite trading a series of points. 

As the Beavers inched their way back into the match at 14-11, NMU went on an 11-2 scoring spree to seal the deal and pick up their second set win of the day.

SET THREE

The third and final set saw much of what happened in the second with the Wildcats jumping out to an early lead and carrying that momentum through the end.

After NMU opened with a 3-0 lead to start the set, BSU refused to let up easy and fought their way back into contention. Although they never gave up the lead, the Wildcats saw their opposition tie things up four times early in the set. 

With the score knotted at 7-7, the Wildcats powered ahead, with their scoring run spurred by a service error by BSU followed by an ace from Madeline Crowley. 

The Wildcats ultimately finished the match off with a service ace from Barlage for the 25-15 final in set three.

MATCH #2 vs. CEDARVILLE

SET ONE

Barlage kept the service ace success from the first match going with one to open the second contest of the day.

The teams went back and forth early before the Wildcats pulled away for good at 12-11 on back-to-back Crowley service aces.

The momentum would stay with NMU the rest of the way as a Meyer kill and a Jacqueline Smith service ace took set one against Cedarville 25-22.

SET TWO

A 4-0 run got the 'Cats going in their second set against the Yellowjackets. Two of those points came via opposition errors and the other two were courtesy of Barlage service aces.

The Wildcats never trailed in the second frame and took a lead as large as six at the 10-4 mark.

A Negron service ace closed out the frame 25-21 in favor of the 'Cats.

SET THREE

Despite fighting hard in set three, the Wildcats dropped the set to Cedarville, 25-20 as the Yellowjackets forced another set. 

The Wildcats blocked two shots in the set, as Meyer and Negron leaped up to post a tight defense. 

NMU attempted 26 attacks in the third set, led by Smith.

SET FOUR

The final set of the day was never in doubt as the WIldcats never trailed or were tied by the opposing team.

A Smith kill and two Cedarville errors gave NMU a 3-0 lead early.

The Wildcats were the first to double digits and stayed there well before the Yellowjackets in a dominating final set.

A Barlage-assisted kill from Smith locked up the match with a 25-19 fourth set win.

STAT LEADERS

NMU totaled 34 kills in the first match as Stark posted 11 of her own.  She also posted a team-best 36 total attacks in the first match of the day to lead her team to a straight-sets victory.

The Wildcats outplayed the Beavers in nearly every stats category, including boasting 13 service aces while allowing none. The Wildcats also tallied three solo blocks by Ania Hyatt, Meghan Meyer, and Angelina Negron, and averaged seven blocks per set.

Smith notched a team-high 14 kills in the second match of the day while Meyer was next with nine.

Against Cedarville, the Wildcats had 14 service aces with Barlage leading the charge with a total of four. The freshman also led NMU in assists with 31 in the final match.

Olivia Webber made noise on defense as she led the team in total blocks against the Yellowjackets with four.

UP NEXT

The 'Cats are set to welcome their first home and GLIAC competition to Vandement Arena this coming weekend. Ferris State University comes to Marquette on Friday at 7 p.m. followed by Grand Valley State University Saturday at 4 p.m., and the final match sees Davenport Sunday at 2 p.m.