HAMMOND, Ind. - The Northern Michigan volleyball team trailed 2-1 to Purdue Northwest on Saturday afternoon, but rallied to win the final two sets, claiming its third straight victory and second consecutive in the GLIAC. 

The sides hit nearly identical, .151 for NMU to .152 from PNW, but Northern made its difference at the service line with six more point-winning serves. Allie Barlow led the way, tying a career-high with five service aces to lead NMU's season-high effort of 11 overall. Meghan Meyer paced the Green and Gold on the attack with 14 kills, a season-best, along with three solo blocks. 

Northern was also efficient with 72 digs, having four hit double figures for the third time this season. Liesl Haugen led the effort with 17, while Julia Bouma added 11 in her second appearance this season, her best total since 12 in her collegiate debut on September 2, 2021. 

"Our team did a great job of handling the scrappiness of the other teams this weekend," said Bouma after the win. "We had to battle through a lot of tough rallies and grind all the way to the end. What a great way to start off the conference season!"

In a true back-and-forth affair, the Pride took the opening set 25-17 before NMU responded with a 25-14 victory in the second. PNW bounced back to take the third 25-20, but again, the Wildcats pulled even with a 25-21 win in the fourth. 

Training 3-2 early in the decisive fifth, Northern Michigan pulled away with five straight and led 8-4 when the teams switched sides. The Green and Gold would score the final five points with Caylie Barlage serving, getting an ace and a kill on the run. A Meyer and Kaysie Bakke block sealed the win for NMU in the fifth, 15-8. 

The ability to string together consecutive points proved pivotal, as the Wildcats recorded five runs of five straight points or greater to three from the Pride. NMU added two of those five in the final set and peaked at an 8-0 run in its big second set win. 


Up Next
Winners of its last three and holding a record of 6-3 (2-0 GLIAC), the Wildcats are in a good position as they begin a six-game homestand beginning with Davenport and Ferris State next Friday and Saturday in Vandament Arena.