MARQUETTE, Mich. - After more than three weeks since the start of the 2025 volleyball season, the Northern Michigan Wildcats are finally set to play at home in Vandament Arena this weekend, clashing against the Parkside Rangers and the Roosevelt Lakers.
With its first 10 matches of the season away from its own friendly confines, the Green and Gold are now set to embark on its second season inside the new Vandament Arena. Northern (1-9, 0-2) will face a daunting task on Friday, September 26, when they take on undefeated Parkside (9-0, 2-0) at 6 p.m. The 'Cats will wrap up the weekend against Roosevelt (1-9, 0-2) on Saturday at 3 p.m.
The matches can be streamed on FloCollege or listened to live on 100.3 The Point, with Brice Burge on the call.
Follow the Action
Stay connected with @NMU_Wildcats and @NMU_Volleyball on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for updates throughout the weekend.
Friday, Sept. 26 – vs. Parkside – 6 p.m.
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Saturday, Sept. 27 – vs. Roosevelt – 3 p.m.
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From the Coach
"We just have to keep going and keep getting better. The minute we start to face adversity, I can feel our team tighten up, and I believe that is our problem."
About the Wildcats
The Wildcats have been road warriors to start the season, playing in tournaments in Florida and Minnesota, in addition to their most recent trip to Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Sitting at 1-9, the Wildcats are eager to be back on their home court and get back on track.
Through 10 matches, the Wildcats are averaging 11.3 kills and 10.7 assists per set. The offense, led by senior middle blocker
McKenzie Gruner with 83 kills, has been balanced, as six 'Cats have recorded a 10+ kill match. Setting the offense is reigning All-GLIAC Second Teamer
Allie Barlow with 283 assists, fifth most in the conference.
Defensively, NMU is recording 15.1 digs and 1.5 blocks per set. The back line is led by libero
Lauren Cardwell with an even 100 digs this season. At the net, Gruner (24),
Emilia Gulock (21), and
Madison York (17) are leading the team in blocks.
Debuting in the new Vandament Arena last season, the Wildcats went 8-2 at home, including victories over Parkside (3-2) and Roosevelt (3-1) in the regular season. NMU finished 2024 with a 20-9 record, earning the GLIAC Tournament's No. 3 seed. NMU matched up with Parkside again in the postseason, knocking off the Rangers 3-1.
Scouting the Opponents
Parkside Rangers
The Rangers are off to their best start in program history at 9-0, one of only 13 unbeatens remaining in Division II. Parkside is receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll and has collected a slew of conference honors thus far, with five of the nine GLIAC Players of the Week being Rangers.
Parkside is averaging 13.0 digs per set, good for 16th in the nation. The team is also top-50 nationally in kills per set (13.6, 31st), digs per set (16.8, 43rd), opponent hitting percentage (.143, 45th), and blocks per set (2.2, 48th), making for an extremely well-balanced roster with a multitude of strengths.
Reigning GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year Natalie Harris is off to another hot start this season. She is averaging 5.46 digs per set, good for 14th nationally and tops in the GLIAC. She has already earned two of the three GLIAC weekly defensive honors this season. On offense, Ava Irvin paces the GLIAC with 139 kills, recording 20+ twice already. She has also received two GLIAC weekly honors on the offensive side.
Roosevelt Lakers
In their second season in the conference, the Lakers enter the weekend with an identical record to the Wildcats at 1-9, 0-2. Roosevelt picked up their win against Kentucky Wesleyan 3-1, but they've suffered six sweeps to date.
The team is averaging 10.5 kills, 9.2 assists, 12.0 digs, and 1.4 blocks per set. Alessia Isgro (68) and Lihi Zaibert (62) have led the offense in kills, while Cydney Martinez leads the team with 103 digs and Zaibert leads the unit at the net with 17 blocks.
A year ago, the Lakers went 4-23, only winning 16 sets all season.
