MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan Volleyball team prepares to host its final home matches of the season this weekend as they take on Saginaw Valley State on Friday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m. for family and poster signing night. The Cats' final home match will be vs. Davenport on Saturday, November 4 at 3:30 p.m for Military Appreciation Day and Senior Day.

Sitting at 6-8 in the conference, the Wildcats are tied with Purdue Northwest in a tie for sixth, with Davenport and Michigan Tech just a game ahead at 7-7 with four matches remaining. Each match is crucial for the Wildcats as they attempt to rise up the GLIAC leaderboard. 


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Follow @NMU_Volleyball and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the game. 

Friday, November 3 - vs. Saginaw Valley State at 6:30 p.m. ET
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Saturday, November 4 - vs. Wayne State University at 3:30 p.m. ET
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Cat Nips

• The 'Cats are currently seventh in the GLIAC with a record of 6-8. Overall, Northern sits at 9-16 on the season. 
• Junior outside hitter Jacqueline Smith is currently ranked firth in the GLIAC in kills per set (3.77). Within conference play she is first in total attacks (438). 
• Freshman libero Liesl Haugen is currently third in GLIAC play in digs/set (4.96) and second in total digs (253).
• Junior middle blocker Meghan Meyer is second in the conference with a .340 overall attack percentage while she is ranked fifth in GLIAC matches in solo blocks (16).
• Sophomore middle blocker McKenzie Gruner is sixth within GLIAC play in solo blocks (12).

A Recap of Last Match
The Cats' hosted rival Michigan Tech on Tuesday, completing a wicked comeback on Halloween night against the Huskies in a five-set clash. NMU found themselves down 2-0 but was able to storm back by taking the next two sets before a decisive 15-4 fifth set win. Jacqueline Smith led the Cats' on the attack in kills with 21, tying a season-high best. It was just the second time in nearly six years that the two rivals have gone to a decisive fifth set, with the Wildcats also winning two years ago.


Notes on Saginaw Valley State
The Cardinals enter the weekend at 1-13 in the GLIAC, and 4-21 overall. Saginaw Valley is currently on a 2 game losing streak. Earlier this season on the road, the Cats' won in three sets. NMU dominated the attack hitting a season high .301. Jacqueline Smith led the way with 17 kills, hitting a dominating .412. The Wildcats currently have a 18-15 all-time record vs. the Cardinals, and are on a four game slide in the matchup.

The Cardinals' attack is led by junior (OH) Madison Thompson with 210 kills and junior (OH) Sarah Veal with 145 kills on the season. As a team, the Cardinals are hitting .145. They average 10.1 kills/set and 9.30 assists/set.


Notes on Wayne State 
The Warriors come into the weekend at 5-9 in the GLIAC. Wayne State sits at 10-15 overall, winning its last match in three sets vs. Saginaw Valley State. In the last matchup between the Warriors and Wildcats, the Cats' were swept by the Warriors in three sets. The Wildcats have a 9-8 record vs. the Warriors all-time, and are on a one game losing streak vs. the Warriors.

The WSU attack is led by junior (OH) Molly Miller with 307 kills and sophomore (MB) Kayla Giroux with 260 kills. As a team, the Warriors are hitting .211. They average 12.4 kills/set and 11.5 assists/set.