Record stood for more than 30 years
MARQUETTE, Mich. – Senior outside hitter Jacqueline Smith set a program record that stood for over 30 years, becoming the Northern Michigan volleyball all-time kills leader in a 3-1 victory over the Lake Superior State Lakers on Saturday evening.
Smith notched 22 kills in the match, the second time she’s eclipsed 20 kills this season. Needing nine kills to set the program kills record, Smith recorded seven in the first set and added another quick two in the second to break the previous mark of 1,664 by Andrea Gommans that stood since 1993.
“I am very proud of how our team battled today and yesterday,” said Smith following the win. “We were challenged in the second set both days but we rose to it and showed that we can get the job done!”
Helen Beiring also found double figures with 10 kills, the second time in her career she’s reached double figures. Allie Barlow contributed 44 assists while Liesl Haugen led the way defensively with 18 digs.
The Wildcats got off on the right foot immediately, leading 6-1 in the first set. The Lakers closed the gap to two, but Northern never relinquished the lead. NMU hit .242 in the first and closed out a 25-16 first set win, edging the Lakers in kills 14-6.
Lake Superior State flipped the script in the second, leading 6-1. Their lead grew to as many as eight, but the Wildcats kept chipping away and eventually knotted the score at 19’s. The visitors would take a long rally late and win the last two points for a 25-23 victory.
Northern responded to open the third with a sudden 4-0 lead. The ‘Cats continued to push that lead, eventually leading by double figures at 16-6. NMU stretched the lead to a dozen and put the set away on a Meghan Meyer kill, 25-15. KC Fortune, newly entered into the match, recorded a pair of blocks in the set.
There was a lot of back-and-forth in the final set, but NMU managed the first four-point lead at 16-12. The Lakers closed the gap to two, but NMU rattled off the final five, again finished off by a Meyer kill, to win the set and match 25-18.
The Green and Gold improved to 9-4, 5-1 with the victory. NMU hit .283 to LSSU’s .164.
Up Next
The Wildcats wrap-up its six game homestand next weekend hosting Michigan Tech on Thursday, October 11. That match can be seen on FOX UP. Roosevelt visits NMU on Friday, October 12.
