MARQUETTE, Mich. - After a successful weekend sweep, the Northern Michigan volleyball team will return to the road this weekend, traveling downstate to face the nation's top team in undefeated Ferris State followed by Davenport.

The Wildcats pulled off a sweep last week not only in the matches against Michigan Tech, Purdue Northwest and Parkside, but also in the GLIAC weekly honors. Liesl Haugen received the Defensive Player of the Week title, Jacqueline Smith was named the Offensive Player of the Week, and Allie Barlow earned Setter of the Week honors. 

The Wildcats will have two final weekends of play consisting of four more matches before entering the postseason.


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, November 8 vs. Ferris at 5:00 p.m.
Watch  |  Live Stats 

Saturday, November 9 vs. Davenport at 6:00 p.m.
Watch  |  Live Stats


A Word from Kamryn Duffield
"It's important to stay discipline in those moments when you are tired and doing the job you are supposed to do and not going out of your way to do someone else's job."



Cat Nips

• Jacqueline Smith recorded 62 kills over NMU's three wins last week. The senior captain for NMU is 4th in the country among active players in career kills at 1,792 and first in the conference for kills this season with 356. She recorded a career-high with 28 kills against rival Michigan Tech last week. She also added a career-high 19 digs during the match. This thrilling career performance from Smith was topped off as she tallied the match-winner in the fifth set. The 28 kills she recorded in the match tied the GLIAC's single-game record this season for kills. 
• For the second time in the 2024 season, Allie Barlow was named the conference setter of the week. She was given this honor after she recorded 147 assists over three matches, assisting NMU to its three wins. The sophomore's performance in the five-set thriller against Michigan Tech set a GLIAC single-match high of 62 assists. This ties at the 13th spot nationally in assists during a single match this season. Barlow leads the  GLIAC with 943 assists on the season, and is second in the conference in service aces with 40. 
• Liesl Haugen recorded 31 digs in the victory at Michigan Tech, a career best for the sophomore. This big effort from Haugen helped the team, as a whole, tally 97 digs, a 2024 season GLIAC-high. In addition to this career performance, Haugen recorded 63 digs during the Wildcat's triple-win week. The 31 digs Haugen put up against Tech tied for second-best during a GLIAC match so far this season; she is also third in the GLIAC for digs, with 369 on the season. 
• On October 5th vs. Lake Superior State, Smith broke the program's all-time kills record, surpassing the previous mark of 1,664 by Andrea Gommans that stood since 1993. She is second in the league this season with 294 kills. She also reached 1,000 career digs earlier this season, becoming the 18th player in NMU history to hit the milestone.
• Caylie Barlage became the 19th Wildcat to hit the 1,000 career digs milestone in NMU's victory at Michigan Tech. 
• Meghan Meyer hit her 1,000th career kill last week at Michigan Tech. She holds a .334 hitting percentage this season, which is 7th in the league. McKenzie Gruner follows in 8th at .322. 

Notes on the Opponents
Ferris State
The top team in the nation, the Ferris State Bulldogs are currently 24-0 on the season, and 13-0 in conference. Earlier in the season, when NMU faced-off against Ferris, the Bulldogs took the match in four sets. The Bulldogs have only dropped nine sets all season, and have won a remarkable 39 of 41 sets they have played in league play. 

The team averages 13.99 kills per set and has tallied 1,133 kills this season, 225 more than their opponents. Leading this charge for the Bulldogs is senior Olivia Henneman-Dallape who has recorded 342 kills this season. 

FSU's .311 hitting percentage is best in the nation while they lead the conference in most service aces per set (2.04), assists per set (12.54), hitting percentage (0.311), kills per set (13.98), win/loss percentage (1.00), and team kills (1,132).


Davenport
Davenport has a record of 9-15 during the 2024 season, and 5-8 in conference matches. The Wildcats were victorious in the last meeting between the teams, taking the set in four matches. 

The team is averaging 10.95 kills per set with 931 overall, and 13.48 digs per set with 1,146 overall. The Panthers are led by sophomore Abby Alan and junior Mehl Hansen. Alan has 289 kills, while Hansen has 639 assists.