MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan volleyball team is set to travel downstate for a pair of conference matches against Grand Valley and Wayne State this weekend.
After a 2-1 weekend during the Midwest Crossover Tournament in Indiana, the Wildcats will return to GLIAC play. First, Northern (13-5, 7-1) will match up with the Grand Valley State Lakers (16-1, 7-1) on Friday at 6:00 p.m., and then travel to the Motor City to contend the Wayne State Warriors (8-10, 5-3) on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
GVSU and Wayne State also both took part in the Midwest Crossover last weekend. Grand Valley went 3-0 while Wayne State collected a weekend record of 1-2.
Follow the Action
Follow @NMU_Wildcats and @NMU_Volleyball on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the matches.
Friday, October 25 at Grand Valley at 6:00 p.m.
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Live Stats
Saturday, October 26 at Wayne State at 4:00 p.m.
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Live Stats
A Word from Mike Lozier
"We're going to tighten up our passing and tighten up serving, and work on adding some wrinkles to our offense that maybe our opponents aren't expecting. But we know that once we walk in the gym, we can compete with anybody."
Cat Nips
- Allie Barlow was named the GLIAC Setter of the Week after recording a career-best 52 assists in a five-set thriller with Findlay and following it up with 48 more a few hours later in a four-set triumph of UIndy for an even 100 on the day. She would add 31 more against Rockhurst for a weekend total of 131. Additionally, she added 14 kills, five aces, 23 digs, and a block over the three matches.
- Barlow now paces conference setters with 738 assists this season, a top-30 mark nationally. She also surpassed 1,000 career assists over the weekend.
- On October 5th vs. Lake Superior State, Jacqueline Smith broke the program's all-time kills record, surpassing the previous mark of 1,664 by Andrea Gommans that stood since 1993.
- Smith also reached 1,000 career digs earlier this season, becoming the 18th player in NMU history to hit the milestone. Caylie Barlage will look to become the 19th Wildcat to hit that mark as she currently sits at 971.
- Meghan Meyer will look to hit the 1,000 career kills milestone as she sits at 981 entering the weekend. Both Meyer and McKenzie Gruner hold a .346 hitting percentage this season, tied for 6th in the league.
- Libero Liesl Haugen ranks 3rd in the GLIAC with 295 digs this season, and 707 career digs.
Notes on the Opponents
Grand Valley State
At 16-1, the Lakers only loss of the season came at the hands of Ferris State. The team is currently led by senior Jodyn Gates, who has 183 kills and 433 assists. She recorded her season high of 35 assists last weekend in the team's match against Walsh. The Lakers are leading the GLIAC in aces-per-set and blocks-per-set. Six Lakers have recorded 40+ total blocks this season, led by 72 from Paige Sanders and 66 from Brianna Stawski.
Nationally, GVSU ranks second in blocks/set (2.87) and third in opponent hitting percentage (.108).
Wayne State
The Warriors are led by a duo of Molly Miller (256 kills) and Kayla Giroux (243). Giroux's .419 hitting percentage is tops in the league and 9th best nationally and her 81 total blocks are the best in the GLIAC and good for a top-35 mark nationally.
As a team, the Warriors hit .241 while their opponents are .213.
