By: Harley Beyer
Athletics Communications Intern
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan University volleyball Wildcats are welcomed home this Homecoming Weekend, as they look for two more wins in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.
Starting their weekend out, the 'Cats will be facing Saginaw Valley State University at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, they will welcome Wayne State University to Vandament Arena for a 2:00 p.m. match start.
WEEKLY NOTES
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FOLLOW ALONG |
Fans can follow the action using live stats and video.
Follow @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continued coverage throughout the week.
Friday VS. Saginaw Valley
Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/wvball/2021-22/boxscores/20211001_pp64.xml
Video: https://nmuwildcats.com/links/0j1o2m
Saturday VS. Wayne State
Live Stats: https://nmuwildcats.com/sports/wvball/2021-22/boxscores/20211002_l66c.xml
Video: https://nmuwildcats.com/links/0j1o2m
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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.
The team is also receiving votes in week one of the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 Women's Poll.
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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.
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STAT LEADERS |
Three Wildcats have found themselves on the GLIAC leaderboard in three different statistical categories.
Jacqueline Smith, a very prevalent name on the leaderboard, is currently second in kills per set with 3.98 and second in kills with 187. Smith is also found ranked number five on the leaderboard for service aces per set with 0.40.
Caylie Barlage and Lizzy Stark are also spotted on the leaderboard with Barlage taking second overall in service aces per set with a mark of 0.55. With 0.46 service aces per set, Stark is also on the leaderboard taking third in service aces per set.
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LAST TIME OUT |
Last weekend the 'Cats were on the road continuing GLIAC play as they traveled to Northwood University and Lake Superior State University.
Starting out the weekend, the Wildcats went down in three sets as they faced the Northwood Timberwolves on Friday. Saturday, the 'Cats traveled to Lake Superior State and played a tough match. The team dropped the match against the Lakers 3-2.
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NMU VS SAGINAW VALLEY |
The 'Cats and the Cardinals have faced each other 74 times since they first faced off in 1975. The Wildcats have taken home 60 wins in the past 46 years against Saginaw Valley giving the 'Cats a .810 winning percentage over the Cardinals.
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NMU VS WAYNE STATE |
Facing each other 62 times in the past 46 years, the 'Cats have beat the Warriors 41 times. The last time the Wildcats met Wayne State was in 2019, and the 'Cats took home the win in a 3-0 match, adding to the overall winning percentage of 0.661.
