Smith leads with 14 kills, Bakke has career-high 12
MARQUETTE, Mich. – In an exciting four-set match, the NMU Wildcats emerged victorious over the Pride in the penultimate regular season home match with a 3-1 score.
In the most recent previous matchup of these two teams earlier in the season, the Wildcats came out on top in a five-set match and swept the season series with the win at home.
Jacquline Smith again paced the team with 14 kills and added 17 digs and four blocks, but it was a career-high effort of 12 kills from Kaysie Bakke that helped get Northern over the top. On the defensive side of the ball, Liesl Haugen and Caylie Barlage both had 19 digs.
“Purdue Northwest is always tough to play as they are a very scrappy team,” said Barlage after the match. “I’m proud of the defensive effort and our hitters for consistently going up and being aggressive. Loved the never give up attitude we had tonight.”
Set One
The teams opened play, both creating strong attacking plays, with the Wildcats seeing early kills from seniors Jacquline Smith and Meghan Meyer along with a service ace from Allie Barlow. After a big block by McKenzie Gruner and a second service ace from Barlow, the Pride elected to take the first timeout of the match as the score showed 7-2.
Coming out of the timeout, Purdue Northwest gained some quick points to decrease the Wildcat lead. However, the ‘Cats continued onward with the attacking push keeping the 5-point lead with two service aces from Smith and kills from McKenzie Gruner and Bakke (13-8).
Moving closer towards set point, NMU was able to maintain the momentum in the match and highlight multiple players while building upon the lead the team was able to gain early in the set. Gruner, Julia Bouma, and Smith all added kills to the Wildcat score, as Caylie Barlage and Meghan Meyer both added service aces.
The Wildcats returned to the court after a Pride timeout as the score read 23-13. Despite efforts from the Pride, a kill from Kaysie Bakke closed out the first set of play in favor of the Wildcats (25-15).
Set Two
The Pride opened play in the second set with five quick points to the Wildcats two. A service ace from Smith and a kill from Bakke was able to get the ‘Cats tied back up with the Pride at six apiece.
The Pride continued to push, tallying four more points before NMU opted to take a timeout to regroup (10-6).
Out of the timeout, Bakke put up a block, bringing the ‘Cats to seven points in the set. Purdue Northwest did not let up, recording three kills and a service ace before Smith responded with a big kill, her first of the set (13-9).
Coming out of a timeout, Bakke tallied three kills for the Wildcats in an effort to remain in the set, setting the score to 19-15. Meyer also added two kills as the Pride neared in on the 25 mark. The Wildcats were determined to not go down without a fight however, seeing a service ace from Barlage.
Purdue Northwest was the first to reach set point and took set two off of a blocked Wildcat attacking effort, putting the teams at a tie moving into the third set (25-18).
Set Three
Smith tallied a kill as well as with a block, getting the first two points of the set. Barlow and Gruner also added early kills to the score, getting the Wildcats a lead of three points.
Bakke recorded a kill and followed it up with a big block from the Wildcats. These efforts from Bakke, paired with attacking errors from the Pride allowed the Wildcats to continue increasing the point differential. Barlage added two kills of her own, getting the Wildcats to a five-point advantage over Purdue Northwest (13-8).
NMU did not let up on the attacking efforts. Barlow added a kill as assisted one from Smith as well. Gruner also tallied a kill, pushing NMU closer to taking set three (22-14).
Smith recorded a service ace, sending the Wildcats to set point. NMU took set three via a kill from Gruner (25-14)
Set Four
Set four opened in an exchange of points between the two teams with Smith putting up a kill, paired with a big block from Gruner.
The teams continued in this back-and-forth style of play through much of the early set. Smith, Gruner, and Barlow all recorded multiple kills in the heated point-for-point set (11-11).
After a kill from Meyer, the teams remained locked-in at 17s across the board. Bakke added a big kill, followed by another one from Meyer that allowed the Wildcats to maintain the tie that had been remaining throughout the entire set (18-18).
Smith put up a kill for the ‘Cats before going back to serve. Off of a set from Barlow, Bakke recorded another kill, her 12th of the night (22-21).
Out of a Purdue Northwest timeout, Smith tallied a kill as well as a service ace to bring the Wildcats to match point. A kill from Gruner ended the set and the match with a score of 25-21, defeating the Pride for a second time this season.
Up Next
The Wildcats will return to the Vandament Arena tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. to take on Parkside on Senior Day.
