3-1 decision
HOUGHTON, Mich. – McKenzie Gruner led the Northern Michigan volleyball team with a career-high 14 kills, but despite a hard-fought effort from the Green and Gold, No. 14 Minnesota Duluth emerged victorious 3-1 on Friday afternoon in the UP Open, 15-25, 18-25, 28-26, and 16-25.
Gruner led the NMU effort from first serve, notching the first kill of the afternoon. Her 14 kills surpassed her previous personal best of 11 set last season against Davenport. Not only did she lead the way for the Wildcats, but her 14 kills came on just 27 attempts for a .519 attack percentage, a truly notable feat from the 6’2 junior middle blocker.
The Wildcats contested Duluth early on, matching the Bulldogs point-for-point. Tied at 9-9, UMD put together its first significant run of the afternoon, a 4-point swing, to lead 13-9. UMD would go on to score 12 of 16 to extend its lead and eventually finish off the first set 25-15. The Bulldogs showed why they are perennially a national contender, hitting .517 in the opening frame.
The Green and Gold looked stronger coming out of set two, scoring the first two and building a 8-5 lead thanks to four early pinpoint strikes from Gruner. The Bulldogs put together another run to steal the lead mid-set, and would add a 5-0 run a little later on to lead 19-13. NMU continued to battle with the set winding down, but the Bulldogs closed it out 25-18 to lead 2-0.
NMU was strong at the net in the second, but got tripped up at the service line with five service errors and three aces from Duluth.
Some new faces helped lead the ‘Cats to a big third set victory 28-26. Rayne Thompson, Olivia Webber, and KC Fortune all entered the contest and contributed, getting six kills from the trio along with stout effort defending the Maroon and Gold attack.
Much like the third, the Wildcats led early in the fourth but faced a multi-point deficit by mid-set. NMU stayed locked in and kept chipping away. Trailing 23-19, NMU put together a five-point tear with Allie Barlow at the service line to storm back. UMD would have match point leading 26-25, but Northern once again answered, scoring the last three, including a block from freshman Fortune on the final point, to earn a big set win at 28-26. NMU’s .314 attack percentage in the set was one of its better set efforts so far this season.
NMU struck first again in the fourth for the third consecutive set. Gruner’s efforts continued late, recording five kills in the set to easily surpass her previous single-game kill mark. Hanging tight at 14-13, the Bulldogs scored six of the next seven to gain breathing room at 20-14. They would hold on and score the last five of the set to secure a set and match victory, 25-16.
Jacqueline Smith added 11 kills, while six others also added multiple-kill efforts. Barlow notched 40 assists while Gruner also led the team at the net with a pair of blocks. Duluth’s Samantha Paulsen paced all players with 19 kills to help lead UMD’s .357 attack-percentage effort.
Up Next
NMU will face No. 7 St. Cloud State tomorrow, September 14, at 10 a.m. in the final match of the weekend ahead of conference play next weekend.
