MANKATO, Minn. - The Northern Michigan volleyball team secured its third victory in as many attempts at the Maverick Invite on Saturday morning, sweeping the Upper Iowa Peacocks in straight sets 25-23, 25-16, and 25-21. 

It was another all-around effort from the Green and Gold, seeing a different significant contributor in each set. To get things going, the duo of Allie Barlow and Meghan Meyer took control, connecting five times for a perfect five kills to help lead Northern to a 25-23 opening set one win. 

"I'm proud of how we came together as a team and took care of business," Meyer said following the match. "We knew what we had to do and we did it. It is exciting to see our potential now knowing that we have things we need to improve on."

The Wildcats displayed dominance in the second in large part thanks to Caylie Barlage. In a close set early on, Barlage rattled off three straight aces as part of a 5-0 run to lead 10-4. The senior would total an astounding four aces in the set, along with a kill, to power NMU in front 25-16. 

Northern went to the outside to secure the sweep, getting five kills from Jacqueline Smith and four more from Helen Beiring to upend the Peacocks 25-21 in the final frame. 

The Wildcats recorded a season-high 10 aces and hit .265 as a team, led by 10 from Smith, nine from Meyer, and six apiece from Beiring, Kaysie Bakke, and McKenzie Gruner. Meyer showcased why she is one of the most efficient attackers in the country, converting her nine kills on just 12 attempts for a .750 attack percentage.


Set One
NMU struck first in the match and got off to an early lead with a kill from Kaysie Bakke and a an ace from Liesl Haugen. 

The set started with back and forth points from each side. Key players for the Wildcats such as Megan Meyer, Caylie Barlage, Jacqueline Smith, and Helen Beiring propelled the 'Cats to an early lead over the Peacocks (13-8).

Upper Iowa made a surge, testing the Wildcat defense, however the Peacocks were unsuccessful as Kaysie Bakke put an end to set one with a kill.

Set Two
After taking the first, the Wildcats opened the second set of play with a quick kill from the Peacocks. The Wildcats quickly gained an early lead with errors from Upper Iowa's offense.

Helen Beiring recorded the first kill for the 'Cats from Allie Barlow, setting the score at 6-4. The Wildcats maintained and built on this early lead for the rest of the set.

Great efforts from Caylie Barlage came in the form of multiple consecutive server's aces, pushing the Wildcat offense into a larger lead that would prove to be one the Peacock wouldn't recover from. 

The set point of the set was recorded by senior Megan Meyer in the form of a kill assisted by Allie Barlow. 

Set Three
Upper Iowa began the third set on the attack, quickly gaining a 4-0 lead over the 'Cats. The Peacocks run was put to an end with a kill from McKenzie Gruner.

NMU remained trailing Upper Iowa for the first half of the set. Things started to look up for the Wildcats as they closed the score gap in the form of two kills from Helen Beiring and attacking errors from the Peacocks.

Megan Meyer capitalized on the swing of momentum in the match, adding two kills of her own to accompany another server's ace from Caylie Barlage.

The Wildcats wrapped up the match in three sets with a final kill from Jacqueline Smith, locking the final score for set three in at 25-21.

Up Next
NMU Volleyball will play in its final match of the weekend this afternoon with a match against Minnesota State at 3 p.m. EST. The Mavericks, like the Wildcats, have gone three for three on the weekend, heading into the final match.