North Michigan News

The Northern Michigan University volleyball team will face off against Michigan Tech on Tuesday, October 28, at 6 p.m. in Vandament Arena. The Wildcats currently hold a 9-12 overall record and are 6-3 in conference play, placing them fifth in the GLIAC standings. Michigan Tech follows closely behind in sixth place with an 8-11 overall record and a 5-4 mark in the league.

Both teams are coming into the match after splitting their games over the weekend. Northern Michigan secured a five-set victory against Grand Valley State before falling to Wayne State in another close contest. In those matches, several players made significant contributions: Kaylie McIntosh recorded 15 kills, Kaysie Bakke added 14, and McKenzie Gruner finished with 13 kills. Allie Barlow provided strong support for the offense with 48 assists against Grand Valley State and followed up with 47 assists and four aces versus Wayne State. Madison York led NMU's attack with a career-high 18 kills against Wayne State, while Liesl Haugen anchored the defense with 24 digs.

McKenzie Gruner continues to lead NMU’s offense this season, tallying 217 kills and maintaining a .374 hitting percentage in conference play. She ranks tenth in the GLIAC for kills per set at 3.17. Teammates York, McIntosh, Bakke, and Emilia Gulock have each surpassed the 100-kill mark this year. Barlow's average of 9.78 assists per set places her fourth among GLIAC setters.

Defensively, Haugen has established herself as one of the top back-row players in the conference by averaging nearly five digs per set—third-best in the GLIAC—and earning two Defensive Player of the Week honors this season.

Northern Michigan has won its last three meetings against Michigan Tech, including a five-set win earlier this month in Houghton. The Wildcats have also taken five straight regular-season matches from their rivals.

For fans unable to attend, coverage will be available through streaming on FloCollege or via radio broadcast on 100.3 The Point with Brice Burge calling the action. Additionally, FoxUP will air a tape-delayed broadcast on Thursday evening at 7 p.m., featuring Mark Evans and Dave Ellis.

Michigan Tech enters Tuesday’s matchup trailing NMU by one game in the conference standings. Jacqueline Yancy leads all GLIAC players with an average of almost four kills per set and has accumulated 178 total kills this season; Rachel Zurek tops her team with 201 kills so far.

Paige Wagner provides strength at the net for Michigan Tech by averaging one block per set—a figure that ranks third overall within the league.

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