Bartels paces Wildcats with career-high 21 kills
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan Wildcats (12-13, 9-4 GLIAC) earned a hard-fought victory over the Ferris State Bulldogs (19-6, 11-3 GLIAC) who entered the contest as the top-ranked team in the GLIAC standings, marking the fifth five set matches this season inside the friendly confines of Vandament Arena in six home matches.
“We sure love to make it interesting at home!” said NMU Assistant Coach Lauren Van Remortel. “The girls’ composure and grit down the stretch was so impressive against an incredible opponent. You cannot ask for much more as a coach.”
The win also marked a career best performance from Sydney Bartels who finished the night with 21 kills, 15 digs, a pair of blocks and an ace.
“[Bartels] is amazing,” added Head Coach Mike Lozier. “I’m really proud of her for never giving up and to get rewarded for it with that performance is pretty cool.”
McKenzie Gruner and Madison York also added strong nights offensively with 15 and 14 kills, respectively, with Gruner also being involved in seven blocks on the night. Meanwhile, Allie Barlow totaled 50 assists and 15 digs while libero Liesl Haugen led the team in digs with 24.
How it Happened
The Bulldogs opened up the match with a 4-0 run, but the Wildcats were able to dig in with a 6-1 run of their own to take an 8-7 advantage that featured back-to-back kills from McKenzie Gruner. Ferris State would then respond with runs of 4-0 and 5-0 as they managed to go ahead 19-14, but Sydney Bartels went off with four-consecutive kills to knot up the score at 19-19. Both teams traded points on their way to a 24-24 stalemate, but Madison York fired in the emphatic kill to give her team a set point opportunity that was quickly capitalized on as Gruner and Allie Barlow went up for the set-clinching block.
Ferris State once again jumped out to the early advantage to start the second set, quickly pushing ahead for a 6-3 lead, but three-straight kills from Gruner erased the deficit. Both teams continued to battle as Emilia Gulock capped off a 4-0 NMU run, but the Bulldogs responded with a 6-1 run to claim a 20-17 advantage. The Wildcats kept fighting with two more kills from Gruner and a Kaysie Bakke service ace, but FSU would ultimately close out the set with a 4-1 run to take the set 25-21 and tie up the match at 1-1.
In the third, it was the Wildcats who set the tone early, racing ahead to a 7-2 lead to force a quick FSU timeout. The Bulldogs were able to respond and cut into the lead despite a 3-0 scoring burst that featured a solo block from Gruner before eventually tying up the score at 16-16. NMU would push back in front with a 4-1 run behind three more kills from Bartels, but an ensuing 4-0 run for the Bulldogs had FSU ahead by one. Both teams would then battle their way to 25-25, but the Wildcats dug in for the next two points to grind out the set by a margin of 27-25.
Ferris State was able to take control early in the fourth set, jumping out to a 10-point advantage. NMU kept fighting with a 4-1 run to trim the lead, but the Bulldogs would ultimately claim the set by a score of 25-13 to send the match to a decisive fifth set, marking the fifth time in six matches this season that Vandament arena has witnessed a match go the distance.
The Wildcats asserted themselves early in the fifth set, using aces from Lauren Cardwell and Barlow along with a pair of kills from Bartels to take a 9-3 lead. However, the Bulldogs would not go down so easily, grinding out a 7-1 run of their own to tie up the score at 10-10. NMU would then push ahead again as a kill from York had her team leading 13-11, but once again, Ferris State tied up the score. Both teams would then trade points to have the set knotted up at 14-14, but Gruner would give NMU a match point opportunity that Bartels capitalized on to end the match and take down the Bulldogs 3-2.
Up Next
The Wildcats continue their homestand on Saturday, Nov. 8 when they host the Davenport Panthers in Vandament Arena with the first serve scheduled for 3 p.m.
“Another tough match tomorrow with the Panthers,” said Van Remortel, “but I know that this team is ready for the challenge. Go ‘Cats!”
