Webber, Gruner pace Wildcats’ attack
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan volleyball team came out on top in its first ever match against the Roosevelt Lakers. NMU got the win, 22-25, 25-21, 25-9, and 25-23.
Senior Olivia Webber had a standout performance in just her second appearance of the year, leading the team with two blocks while also tallying 10 kills, the second best mark of her career.
“Our team pushed through some adversity today and individually worked through different things but we came together in the end and took care of business,” Webber said following the match.
McKenzie Gruner tied a career high with 15 kills while Rayne Thompson also found double-digit kills with 10.
The teams opened play trading points, with the Lakers gaining a quick four-point lead over the ‘Cats at 9-5. Early points in the match came in the form of kills from Helen Beiring, Sydney Bartels, and McKenzie Gruner. The Lakers were able to maintain this lead throughout much of the set (18-13). Kaysie Bakke and Olivia Webber each added to NMU’s effort to gain control of the set with two kills of their own. NMU got to within one, but the Lakers were the first to set-point, ending the set with a score of 25-22, their first GLIAC set win.
The Wildcats gained an early lead on Roosevelt in the second set with big efforts on both sides of the ball, seeing kills from Kaysie Bakke and Rayne Thompson as well as blocks from McKenzie Gruner and Olivia Webber (8-6). NMU continued on in the race for points, increasing its lead to a five-point difference before the Lakers went on a four-point unanswered run (16-15). Three late kills from Olivia Webber put the ‘Cats in position to secure the set, and Sydney Bartels did just that with a kill (25-21).
Allie Barlow drew first in the third set with an ace paired with two kills from McKenzie Gruner. Off of this initial attack, the Wildcats were able to produce and build up a dominant lead over the Lakers, reaching as high as a 16-point differential throughout the set. A kill from Rayne Thompson got the Wildcats to 25, taking set four easily (25-9). NMU had its best hitting set of the season at .500.
NMU and Roosevelt exchanged back and forth points for majority of early play in the final set, seeing kills from Sydney Bartels and Kaysie Bakke as well as two from Rayne Thompson and Mckenzie Gruner (12-12). The Lakers did not let up and kept the match even moving into late-set play. Gruner continued to be a consistent producer offensively for the ‘Cats, making big plays that began to push the team ahead. Tied at 23-23, a kill from Gruner brought the ‘Cats to set-point, and an ace from Liesl Haugen ended the set and match (25-23).
NMU hit .314, its second best output of the season, while Roosevelt was .176.
Up Next
The Wildcats will take to the road for three matches for the Midwest Crossover Tournament in Hammond, Indiana.
