HAMMOND, Ind. - Battling at the Midwest Crossover in Indiana, the Northern Michigan volleyball team got off to a hot start, defeating Trevecca Nazarene of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) in fours sets, 25-12, 24-26, 25-20, and 25-21. 

Jacqueline Smith posted a season-best 21 kills, while Evynn Layshock added a career-high 13 and Meghan Meyer contributed another 14 to lead the attack. The 56 kills from the Green and Gold was the second-highest output this season. Allie Barlow also hit a career mark in assists with 40. Liesl Haugen pitched in 17 digs and a pair of aces. TNU's Emma Titus led the match with 27 kills. 

As a team, Northern hit .275, the second-best mark of the season. Northern also collected seven total blocks, led by two each from McKenzie Gruner and Meyer. 

The win marks the first consecutive victories on the season for NMU, as they'll head into day two of the Crossover holding a 6-12 record.


How it Happened
With Smith first on the service line for the Wildcats, the Saint Germain, Wisconsin native did her part in an impressive eight-point run, notching a kill along with a service ace for an early and commanding 8-1 lead on the Trojans. Soon after, the combo of Barlow and Layshock established a lethal connection for a trio of consecutive kills to leap ahead 13-4.

Northern rolled to the finish line of the opening set, recording six of the last seven points for a 25-12 shellacking. Layshock dominated with seven kills, leading the way for a team .343 attack percentage in the first. 

The start of the second was reminiscent of the first, with two Smith kills guiding Northern ahead 4-1. Trevecca Nazarene battled back, taking its first multi-point lead of the match at 9-7. Overall, the Trojans scored seven straight to put NMU in a 12-7 hole. Down 19-12, the 'Cats roared back with three separate three-point runs to pull within a point at 22-21. The comeback fell just short, as the Trojans took the set in extra points, 26-24, to even the match.  

With at least an eight-point lead to one side in each of the first two sets, the third played tightly contested. Outside of a brief three-point edge for each side, much of the set played with the slimmest of gaps. With a set victory in sight late, Northern ended the third scoring the final three points on a service error and a pair of kills from Layshock to edge TNU 25-20. 

The Wildcats took command in the fourth. After leading 6-5, the Green and Gold rattled off seven of the next eight points with three Smith kills to tilt the scoreboard 13-6. Four points away from taking the match at 21-14, the Trojans clawed back to 21-19. Teetering with match point at 24-21, a service error secured the victory for Northern. 


Up Next
The Wildcats will have a doubleheader tomorrow, with matchups against Cedarville at 12:30 p.m. and Missouri S&T at 5:30 p.m. to close out the Midwest Crossover.