SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan volleyball team continued its winning ways on Friday evening, defeating the Lake Superior State Lakers in four sets, 25-27, 25-18, 25-20, and 25-17. 

After Northern fell in the opening set, NMU gained a lead early in the second set and only briefly trailed thereafter in the early points of the final set. 

Jacqueline Smith posted 17 kills, the 14th consecutive match that she's reached double digits. Evynn Layshock added 12 kills, while Lauren Van Remortel dished out 42 assists and Caylie Barlage covered the back line with 24 digs. 

NMU posted a .232 attack percentage, while the 14 aces was the second highest of the season and the second straight contest the team has accrued at least ten. The six aces from Barlage were the second most in a four-set match in the GLIAC this season. 

The win is the fourth straight for the Wildcats, the longest streak of the season. NMU is now 12-16 overall and 9-8 in the GLIAC. The win over the Lakers is the fifth straight in the series. 


How it Happened
The Wildcats got on the board first with consecutive kills from Jacqueline Smith and Helen Beiring. After the score was tied 6-6, NMU scored five of the next six to go ahead 11-7, but LSSU quickly erased that with the next four points.

The 'Cats found themselves down 19-17 late in the set, but were able to battle back to take a 20-19 lead. After some back and forth, Northern was working with set point up 25-24, but the Lakers scored the final three points including two service aces to take the opening set, 27-25. 

Facing an early 6-1 hole in set two, NMU rattled off eight straight points with Caylie Barlage at the service line, as she captured a pair of aces to help get the 'Cats back in front. Despite several ties throughout the set, the Wildcats never let the Lakers retake the lead as NMU evened the match with a 25-18 win in set two. NMU scored the final six points with Julia Bouma on the service line with three aces. 

In the third set, NMU started on a 4-0 run and once again, never trailed. The Lakers closed the gap to 21-19 late, but Northern scored four of the final five as an ace from Smith gave NMU a 25-20 set three win and 2-1 lead in the match. 

An early six-point tear to start the fourth set got the Green and Gold out in front again, and once again, with Barlage on the service line. From there, the Wildcats were in cruise control, taking set four with ease, 25-17, for the match win in four sets. 


Up Next
The Wildcats will wrap-up regular season play at No. 20 Ferris State on Saturday at 5 p.m. The GLIAC Quarterfinals will take place on Wednesday, with the top four teams in the conference earning a home match.