Findlay starts, finshes strong 3-0
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The NMU volleyball team fought hard, only for the Oilers of Findlay University to emerge victorious in three-sets (25-18, 25-23, 25-22).
In a tightly contested back-and-forth affair, runs proved vital. The Wildcats were only able to manage two three-point runs throughout the match, while the Oilers hit seven runs of three or greater, with a five-point stretch that proved to be the difference in the final set.
Major efforts were made from key players for the Wildcats, such as Jacqueline Smith, who led the team with 14 kills, closely followed by McKenzie Gruner with 10 of her own, the first double-digit kill performance of her season. Allie Barlow recorded 34 assists during the match. Smith and Sydney Bartels each contributed two solo blocks at the net.
NMU led in service aces 7-3, led by Meghan Meyer with three, but the Oilers hitting percentage of .355, to Northern’s .156, played a vital role in their success.
Set One
The Oilers opened the play with a kill quickly followed by three more points, setting the early score to 4-0. Findlay’s run was put to an end with kills from Jacqueline Smith and Remi Madison, leading to a 10-point stretch of alternating points.
The Oilers stayed on the attack increasing their lead to 10-5 with point-for-point play between the teams. The back and forth play was put to an end as NMU took its first timeout of the match.
Coming out of the timeout, the Wildcats began to close the score deficit with points in the form of two kills from Jacqueline Smith, accompanied by one each from Allie Barlow, and Remi Madison. However, the Oilers continued on their attack, maintaining their lead with a score of 16-10.
After a server’s ace from Megan Meyer and a kill from McKenzie Gruner were immediately answered by the Oilers, NMU took its second timeout.
Findlay reopened play, only to be met with two big points from Jacqueline Smith along with a kill from Remi Madison.
The Oilers took a timeout late in the set, leading to their set one victory with a score of 25-18.
Set Two
NMU opened set two with a kill from Jacqueline Smith and a server’s ace from setter Allie Barlow. Continuing on this push, the ‘Cats gained an early lead with a score of 5-2 via two big points from Helen Beiring.
Despite NMU’s efforts, Findlay responded and gained its first lead of the set, resulting in an NMU timeout with the score showing 9-7.
Kills from Allie Barlow and Jacqueline Smith allowed the Wildcats to regain their footing and set the score back to a deadlock at 11. However, the Oilers did not let up, regaining the lead before NMU took its second timeout of the set.
Coming out of the timeout, the Wildcats continued to play on with an exciting back-and-forth end to the set, but the Oilers came out on top of set two 25-23.
Set Three
Play began with an NMU kill that was returned, opening another back-and-forth for the teams. This continued until the Oilers gained points 15 and 16 in the set, gaining the largest differential at this point in the set, 18-14.
Fresh out of a timeout, the Wildcat team put up quick points with two back-to-back blocks from Sydney Bartels.
The Oilers reached match point as the score read 24-22. Findlay took the set, and therefore the match, in three.
Up Next
The Wildcats will continue in the UP Open tomorrow at 3 p.m. to face off against Minnesota Duluth. NMU’s second match of the tournament will take place in Houghton, hosted by Michigan Tech.
