North Michigan News

The Northern Michigan University (NMU) volleyball team is set to host Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) and Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in a series of home matches this weekend. The Wildcats are coming off a split in their first set of home Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) matches. They will face SVSU on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and LSSU on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Currently, NMU holds an overall record of 7-4 and is 3-1 in conference play. Their home record stands at 2-1 as they enter the third week of competition at the new Vandament Arena.

Mike Lozier, head coach of the NMU volleyball team, expressed optimism about his team's potential: "I think this team is capable of being really, really good. This is the most motivated I've been to be in practice in 3 or 4 years, and that's talking about a team that has won the GLIAC Championship and a team that's been to the NCAA Tournament. I think this team has a chance to do something really good."

Senior Jacqueline Smith continues to lead NMU's offense with impressive statistics. She currently leads all Division II active players in total attacks with 4,693 and is nearing Andrea Gommans' career kills record with her current tally of 1,640 kills. Smith's performance against Truman State marked a career-high with 27 kills.

Other key players include Meghan Meyer and Kaysie Bakke, who contributed significantly during last weekend's matches. Meyer also led defensively with blocks over the past four games. Sophomore setter Allie Barlow recorded 82 assists last weekend while contributing nine kills and eleven digs against Ferris State.

Defensively, Liesl Haugen and Caylie Barlage have been instrumental for NMU. Haugen achieved 36 digs over two matches last weekend while leading alongside Barlage against Davenport.

The upcoming opponents present different challenges for NMU:

Saginaw Valley State holds a record of 3-9 overall but remains winless on the road this season. They were predicted to finish tenth out of eleven teams in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll but currently sit ninth.

Lake Superior State ranks seventh within GLIAC standings after playing four conference matches similar to NMU’s schedule thus far; however they hold an overall record standing at five wins versus seven losses.