Gruner paces Wildcats with career-high 15 kills
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan volleyball team recorded its first sweep of the season on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Roosevelt Lakers 26-24, 27-25, and 25-22.
It was a tightly contested match with Northern needing extra points in two of three sets, but the Wildcats’ key players stepped up when needed most. Senior McKenzie Gruner tied a career high with 15 kills, including eight in the second set. She finished with a .414 attack percentage and co-led the team with Emilia Gulock at 2.5 blocks apiece. As a team, the ‘Cats matched their season high with nine blocks.
“Overall, I’m very proud of our team this weekend,” said assistant coach Lauren Van Remortel. “While our physical play was shaky at times, the mental toughness that the team showed down the stretch both last night and today is a true testament to how hard they’ve been working.”
NMU recorded 39 kills in the match, hitting .175, while Roosevelt finished with 30 kills on .075 hitting.
The Wildcats also turned in their best performance of the season from the service line, tallying nine aces. Leading the way was freshman Kaylie McIntosh, who delivered four, all in a pivotal run to start the final set. Roosevelt tallied 11 in the match.
With the win, NMU climbed back to .500 in conference play at 2-2 and improved to 3-9 overall. The Lakers dropped to 1-11 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
How It Happened
After posting three blocks on Friday, Emilia Gulock opened the scoring with a rejection for the ‘Cats. A pair of aces from Sydney Bartels helped build a 9-5 lead, but five straight points from the Lakers gave the visitors their first lead of the set at 10-9. The set remained tight, with the teams even at 12-12. Trailing by two, the Wildcats went on a 6-1 run to take a 19-16 lead. That three-point cushion held to set point at 24-21, but Roosevelt responded with the next three to force extra points. NMU answered back with two straight, sealing the set on a tap kill from Madison York.
NMU hit .281 to Roosevelt’s .167 in the opener, leading in kills 15-11. Kaylie McIntosh led the set with five kills, hitting .500.
Just as she did in the first set, Gulock, this time alongside York, began the scoring in the second with a block. The block party continued as Kaysie Bakke and Gruner teamed up to make it 4-1. Roosevelt battled back and took its first lead at 6-5.
The set stayed close midway through, with RU holding a 13-10 advantage. A block and defensive stand from Liesl Haugen and Remi Madison pulled the ‘Cats within one, but Roosevelt stretched the lead back to four. Three straight kills from Gruner cut the deficit again, and Northern finally pulled even at 18-18.
Down 21-18, a Gulock kill and block fueled another comeback, and two more kills from her pushed NMU ahead 23-22, its first lead since 9-8. The Wildcats closed out the frame in extra points, with Gruner’s eighth kill of the set clinching a 27-25 win. NMU dominated in kills, 16-7.
McIntosh set the tone early in the third set, firing four aces to give NMU a 7-1 lead. The Wildcats kept pressing, building a double-digit advantage at 21-11 behind kills from York, Bakke, Bartels, and Gruner. Freshman Grace Allen made her first career appearance late in the set, recording a few receptions. Despite an 8-0 run from Roosevelt, NMU closed out the sweep 25-22 with Gruner’s 15th kill, matching her career high.
Up Next
The Wildcats will be back on the road next weekend, visiting Saginaw Valley State on October 3 and Lake Superior State on October 4.
