Kamryn Duffield Assistant Coach | Northern Michigan University Athletics Website
Kamryn Duffield Assistant Coach | Northern Michigan University Athletics Website
After winning two home matches last weekend, the Northern Michigan University volleyball team is set to play away games against Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State. The Wildcats will face the Cardinals on Friday, October 3 at 6 p.m. in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, followed by a match against the Lakers on Saturday, October 4 at 4 p.m. in the Upper Peninsula. Both matches will be available for streaming on FloCollege.
Assistant Coach Kamryn Duffield commented on the team's preparations: "I think going forward, we are a battle-tested team, we had a tough preseason, we were on the road three weeks straight, and about to do another three weeks on the road…and just understanding that we can prove we can do it and how we do take that success and repeat it."
The Wildcats recently achieved important conference wins over Parkside (3-2) and Roosevelt (3-0) during their first home games of the season. So far this year, they have played 10 out of their 12 matches away from home. The team averages 11.4 kills and 10.6 assists per set, with senior middle blocker McKenzie Gruner leading with 111 kills. Six players have recorded at least one match with double-digit kills. Allie Barlow has provided 354 assists this season, ranking fifth in the conference.
On defense, NMU records an average of 15.4 digs and 1.6 blocks per set. Libero Lisel Haugen leads with an average of 4.3 digs per set, which ties her for third place in the GLIAC conference rankings. Gruner, Emilia Gulock, and Madison York lead in blocks for the team.
Northern Michigan has a history of success against its upcoming opponents; they have won seven consecutive matches against both Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State.
Saginaw Valley State currently holds a record of six wins and seven losses overall and is one win to three losses in conference play. Their offense is led by Rachel Townsend with 121 kills while Kendall White averages just over four digs per set.
Lake Superior State remains winless this season after eight matches and has only won one set so far. They rank last in several statistical categories within their conference but are led offensively by freshman Elisa Rizzoli with 46 kills.
Fans can follow updates throughout the weekend via @NMU_Wildcats and @NMU_Volleyball on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
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