Wildcats had a chance to win the third set, but the Lakers scored the last two points
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The NMU volleyball team fell to the Grand Valley State Lakers 0-3 in the penultimate home game of the 2026 campaign.
The Wildcats were led by a trio of student-athletes reaching seven kills: KC Fortune, Anna O’Keefe, and Kaylie McIntosh, followed closely by Laynie Russell with six. Setter Allie Barlow notched 23 assists and led the ‘Cats with two aces, O’Keefe led the Green and Gold with 1.5 blocks, and Taylor Smaka (9) and Fortune (8) led the Wildcats in digs.
The Wildcats went on an 8-3 run with a pair of kills from O’Keefe and Fortune in the middle of set one before ultimately falling 16-25.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the second stanza, but a GVSU run of 8-2 forced head coach Mike Lozier to use a timeout. An 8-5 run from the ‘Cats out of the break, finished off by Russell, brought NMU within one at 14-15 before a 10-5 run from GVSU gave the Lakers set two.
After runs of 5-1 and 11-7, the Wildcats were within one at 20-21, forcing GVSU to use a timeout. Out of the break, the Wildcats tied the set at 23-23 and had serve, forcing another Laker timeout. Back-to-back kills proved to be the final actions, and the Lakers escaped with a sweep.
Up Next
The Wildcats will honor its senior class in the final regular-season home match tomorrow, at 4 p.m. ET from the Vandament Arena, when the ‘Cats face the Wayne State Warriors.
