3-2 over Findlay; 3-1 over Indianapolis
HAMMOND, Ind. – Trailing 2-1 heading to the fourth set, the Northern Michigan volleyball team surged in the final two sets to get sweet revenge against a Findlay team that swept them earlier this season, winning a five-set thriller in its first game of the Midwest Regional Crossover Tournament, 16-25, 25-13, 22-25, 25-16, and 17-15.
The win boosted the ‘Cats to 12-4 on the season as they are now winners of nine of the last ten, including a current five-game winning streak.
“As a staff we are so proud of how our team competed this afternoon,” said assistant Sarah Kuehn after the match. “We were motivated going into the match knowing we didn’t give them our best when we played them at home back on September 12th. We’ve grown a lot as a team since that first matchup against them because of all the hard work our team has put in, so I’m just glad we got to see that come together against them today.”
It was a career game for Allie Barlow, as she recorded her personal best mark of 52 assists. Jacqueline Smith had the hot-hand that Barlow would find throughout the match, as her 24 kills on a .380 hitting percentage marked one of her premier performances over her five-year career. Rayne Thompson also found double figures with 10 kills on a .400 percentage. As a team, the ‘Cats hit .245 to Findlay’s .150.
Liesl Haugen was stout on the back line, notching 25 digs. Smith (15), Julia Bouma (11), and Caylie Barlage (11) also payed significant contributions on the defensive end with double-digit digs.
Northern set season highs in kills (62) and assists (56), while the 78 digs were the second-highest output of the season.
The ‘Cats looked strong in the earlier stages of the first, jumping ahead 9-5. The Oilers were able to respond with the next four and went on an extended 12-2 run to start to pull away 17-11. Findlay would score the final four to secure the first set, 25-16. NMU hit -.071 in the first.
The second set was arguably the best of the season to date for the Green and Gold. NMU immediately bounced back to lead 6-1 and didn’t take its foot off the gas. The lead continued to grow from 12-4 to 15-5 to 19-6. Findlay’s first multi-point run didn’t come until right at the end of the set, but by then, Northern had it wrapped up, finishing the set at 25-13.
After struggling on the attack in the first, the Wildcats dominated with a .370 hitting percentage. NMU put together four runs in the set of three points or greater.
Findlay had the answer in the third, jumping ahead early 4-1. Northern battled back to one-point deficits multiple times, but didn’t get over the hump until they grabbed its first lead at 20-19. It didn’t last long, however, as Findlay scored the next point and four of the final five to take the set 25-22.
As good as the second set looked for NMU, the fourth set stood out. NMU was victorious 25-16 to push the match to the pivotal fifth. The ‘Cats hit a remarkable .552 with just one attacking error on 17 kills over the course of the fourth. Just like the second, NMU managed four runs of three points or greater, including a crucial five-point swing with a slim 13-10 lead that pushed the advantage to 18-10.
It was a balanced attack, as Smith, Thompson, Kaysie Bakke, and Meghan Meyer all contributed multiple kills, while Barlow, Barlage, and McKenzie Gruner all added one as well.
In the fifth, the ‘Cats faced an early 3-1 hole by strung together yet another five-points, unanswered, to lead 6-3. Findlay battled back to tie 7-7 and the sides would go blow-for-blow the rest of the way, with both sides looking for that key run to separate.
That run came from the ‘Cats. Trailing 15-14 and facing match point for the Oilers, the ‘Cats scored the final three including a McKenzie Gruner spike to end it, 17-15. NMU had another impressive set, hitting .345.
The Northern Michigan volleyball team continued its winning ways defeating UIndy for its sixth straight win.
NMU’s 61 kills was the second best they’ve recorded this year, only trailing the 62 they had against Findlay earlier in the day.
As a team, the ‘Cats hit .291, its fourth best mark of the season. The Wildcats had a balanced attack on offense, with Jacqueline Smith and Meghan Meyer each leading the way with 13 kills. Kaysie Bakke added 11, McKenzie Gruner another 10, Rayne Thompson recorded eight, and Allie Barlow chipped in another six.
“Super proud of how the team persevered through some adversity in this match,” said assistant Kamryn Duffield after the win. “I want to give a big shoutout to our bench for bringing great energy and making a neutral site feel like home. Our offense stepped up firing on all cylinders and our defense was relentless.”
Barlow recorded an impressive 48 assists in the four sets, bringing her total for the day to an even 100 with a career-high 52 earlier against Findlay. Liesl Haugen was strong defensively with 27 digs while Caylie Barlage added another 18.
The early stages saw a lot of back and forth, but NMU went on a five-point run to pull away in the middle of the set en route to a 25-19 first set win. The ‘Cats hit .351 in the frame.
The offensive prowess continued with a 25-21 win in set two, hitting a nearly identical .353. The ‘Cats created separation early on and didn’t look back.
The Greyhounds got the better of the Wildcats in set three with a 25-22 win, but Northern bounced right back with a match-sealing 25-21 win in the fourth. It was another impressive offensive showing as the Green and Gold hit .326.
Northern is now 2-0 in the conference crossover, 13-4 on the season, winners of six straight, and 10 of the past 11.
