McIntosh leads Wildcats with 15 kills
DULUTH, Minn. – Despite a tightly contested match throughout, the Northern Michigan volleyball team fell to the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in straight sets, 22-25, 22-25, and 23-25.
It was a highlight match for freshman Kaylie McIntosh, as she recorded 15 kills to lead all players. Her seven kills in the opening set were the most for a Wildcat in a single set so far this season. On the service line, Taylor Smaka impressed with five aces, tied for the second-most by a Wildcat over the last two seasons.
The Bulldogs imposed their will at the net with eight blocks. They held a .280 attack percentage with 46 kills, while NMU hit .193 with 42 kills.
Northern dropped to 1-7 in defeat, while the Bulldogs remained a perfect 7-0.
How it Happened
The opening set was tight, but Duluth created the match’s first separation with a 6-1 run to lead 15-10. A trio of kills from McIntosh and aces from Smaka got the Wildcats right back in it, trailing by one. Four straight kills came off the swing of McIntosh to keep NMU within reach, but the final two points went the way of UMD for a 25-22 win. McIntosh accounted for half of NMU’s kills with seven.
The second set consisted of a sequence of runs. A 5-0 Bulldog run pushed them ahead 7-3, but Northern fought right back with the next five to steal the lead. The Bulldogs answered with the next four and rattled off another five straight shortly after to lead 17-10. A personal 3-0 spurt from McKenzie Gruner closed the gap to 20-17 – three of her six kills in the frame – but UMD held on to win it 25-22.
A substantial 9-0 run from the Wildcats in the third set built them a 17-10 lead with more aces from Smaka and kills from McIntosh. The Bulldogs secured the next five points and fought back to even the match at 20. Despite a great last effort, UMD won the final set 25-23.
Up Next
The Wildcats will begin GLIAC play next weekend on the road, starting with a stop at Davenport on Friday, September 19 at 5 p.m.
