33 kills in two matches
MARQUETTE, Mich. – Northern Michigan senior McKenzie Gruner has been named the GLIAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday.
Gruner delivered a standout weekend as the Wildcats closed the regular season with back-to-back home wins to secure the No. 3 seed in the GLIAC Tournament.
She opened the weekend with 14 kills in a 3-0 sweep of Lake Superior State, including three clutch kills late in the third set to help NMU close out the match. She hit .440 in the match. Gruner turned it up a notch in the regular season finale, posting 19 kills while hitting .531 in a 3-1 win over Saginaw Valley State. She also added five blocks, impacting the match on both sides of the net.
For the weekend, Gruner averaged 4.13 kills per set while hitting .466. She finished the regular season with 331 kills and a .318 attack percentage.
The honor is the first of the season for Gruner. Northern Michigan (15-13, 12-4 GLIAC) now turns its attention to the postseason. The Wildcats will host a GLIAC Quarterfinal match vs. Parkside at Vandament Arena on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
