Freshmen pace the Wildcat attack
CHICAGO – The Northern Michigan volleyball team fell in four sets, 23-25, 24-26, 25-20, and 27-25, to the Roosevelt Lakers on Saturday afternoon, finishing the opening weekend of conference play at 1-1.
The Lakers outscored NMU 98-97 overall, with each of their three set wins over the Wildcats coming by the minimum of two points. Northern forced extra points in the second and fourth sets, but Roosevelt found the finishing touches both times en route to its first GLIAC victory.
Northern had several strong individual performances, led by freshman Olivia Ziemer with 11 kills. Right behind her was Grace Allen with 10, the first kills of her career. Freshman Laynie Russell also recorded 10 kills, while Allie Barlow tallied 37 assists.
The Lakers were led by Braelyn Marshall-Northington with a match-high 15 kills. It was Roosevelt’s first victory over the Wildcats.
How it Happened
NMU jumped ahead 4-1 to start the match, but Roosevelt answered with a 7-1 run to grab an 8-5 edge. NMU fired back with an 8-1 stretch of its own to lead 13-9, only for the Lakers to rally again and knot it at 17.
NMU’s offense began to heat up with three kills from three different players pushing the Wildcats ahead 19-17. But Roosevelt answered with four straight to flip the momentum, and the set tied again at 23. The Lakers closed it out with the final two points, 25-23.
NMU started the second set on firmer footing, getting four kills from four different players for a 5-2 lead, but Roosevelt clawed back to take a 9-8 edge. A big block from Anna O’Keefe and a kill from Russell pushed NMU back in front 19-17. Ziemer and Allen carried the momentum further, extending the lead to 23-20. Roosevelt answered with four straight to reach set point, and although Allen kept NMU alive with another kill, the Lakers closed it out 26-24 to take a 2-0 match lead.
NMU came out with a 5-2 lead in the third. The set stayed tight with NMU ahead 12-9 at the midpoint and 17-14 shortly after, before Roosevelt answered with three straight of its own. Ziemer’s back-to-back kills kept the Lakers at bay, and NMU held a 20-19 edge before closing out the set on a 4-0 run with two more kills from Allen sealing it 25-20.
NMU opened the fourth with a 4-2 lead as Allen reached 10 kills, her first 10 kills of her career, to push the Wildcats ahead 7-6. Ziemer soon reached double figures of her own, and the set stayed tight at 13-12 by the midway point. Roosevelt pushed ahead 16-13, forcing an NMU timeout, but the Wildcats answered back to tie it at 18.
Russell became the third Wildcat to reach 10 kills as the set was tied again at 21. Roosevelt scored three straight to reach match point, but NMU wasn’t finished, answering with three of its own to tie it at 24. Roosevelt would close it out 27-25 to complete the four-set win.
Up Next
Northern will be home next weekend, hosting the Davenport Panthers on Friday, September 18, at 4 p.m.
