GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Northern Michigan volleyball team was in Grand Rapids on Saturday, October 28, where they fell to Davenport in four sets. Evynn Layshock posted a career-high 19 kills while Jacqueline Smith also added 19. 

The first three sets were highly contested, with DU needing extra points in the first to pull out a 27-25 win. They'd also narrowly escape in the second, 25-22, before NMU responded with a 25-23 third set victory. Davenport closed out the match with a decisive 25-18 victory in the fourth set.

As a team, NMU hit .189% to Davenport's .220%. The defeat drops NMU to 8-16 overall with a 5-8 conference record.


Set One
The Panthers started off a little bit shaky, giving the Wildcats the perfect opportunity to capitalize on their faults and take an early lead at 3-1. Jacqueline Smith opened up the floodgates with the first successful kill of the day. 

Northern went on a five-point run, including a service ace from Meghan Meyer, and a one-pass kill to Jaqueline Smith, but Davenport turned right around and closed the scoring gap to 11-10 'Cats. 

As the score hit 17-14 in favor of the 'Cats, Davenport took a timeout to regroup. The Panthers came back with a few successful service aces, tying up the score 20-20. The Panthers then took another timeout, while each team planned their attack. With the help of a few more service aces, the Panthers took the lead. With the score sitting at 24-24, a long rally broke out with both teams recovering every ball possible, setting off the net, running to the back of the court to save the ball, the full nine yards. Ultimately Davenport was successful in taking the set over the Wildcats, 27-25. 


Set Two 
The set started out with intense rallies, going point-for-point with big kills from Rayne Thompson and Evynn Layshock. The score was tied 5-5 early on. 

The Wildcats were real playmakers as Allie Barlow faked a set to the middle, pushing the Davenport blockers out of range to block Meghan Meyer's kill. Barlow put herself in position multiple times to get up the hitters for success with two consecutive kills from Layshock and Thompson, the score was still tied, 9-9. 

Davenport ran away with it following the tie, putting up five points in a row, leaving some work for the Wildcats to do. Intensity rose as the 20-point mark was within reach for the Panthers, Jacqueline Smith hit another big kill, but this time was set up by defensive specialist Julia Bouma, catching the Panthers by surprise. 

After a Davenport timeout with NMU within a couple of points. The Panters took four of the next five points. Northern did not concede, getting three kills in a row, two by Evynn Layshock and one from middle hitter McKenzie Gruner. Similar to the first, a tightly-contested set ultimately went the way of Davenport, 25-22. 


Set Three 
The Panthers came out flying in the third set, taking the first six points, causing Northern to take a timeout. The 'Cats returned to the court hitting two kills from Jacqueline Smith and Evynn Layshock. Davenport led 6-2. 

Once the score hit 10-3, the 'Cats switched into gear, dominating the court one point at a time. Northern soon tied up the score at 13-13 with a kill from Angelina Negron, giving the team the extra momentum they needed. 

Both teams pressured the net, with excellent body placement, ready to block the opponents kills. The Wildcats led 17-14. 

Davenport came close to catching up with the 'Cats, but persistent plays by Northern helped them win the set 25-23. 


Set Four 
Tensions were high in the beginning plays of the fourth set, exchanging points until the 4-4 mark. Then, Davenport managed to scrape out a few extra points over the 'Cats taking a 3-point lead. 

The two teams showed off their expert spikes, back and forth, completely unrecoverable by the opposing sides. Meghan Meyer and Evynn Layshock worked together to block multiple Panther kills, which brought the score to 13-10 in favor of the Panthers. 

Davenport kicked it into gear with several cross-court kills, continuing to extend its lead. Allie Barlow was seen running all over the court to help her hitters put up points, becoming successful on two kills from Meghan Meyer and one from Jacquline Smith. It was not enough, as Davenport would finish out the set, 25-18. 


Up Next
The Wildcats will be home for a Halloween night matchup against Michigan Tech. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m.