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Northern Michigan University Wildcats finish volleyball regular season this weekend on road

Northern Michigan University volleyball players celebrate after a point against Michigan Tech during their GLIAC match on Nov. 2 at Vandement Arena in Marquette. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University volleyball team enters this final weekend of the regular season knowing it is in the GLIAC Tournament and will go on the road for the opening-round quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The Wildcats hit the highway south to University Center for a 7 p.m. match today at Saginaw Valley State, then stop on the way home in Sault Ste. Marie for a 1 p.m. Saturday match at Lake Superior State.

NMU enters these final two matches tied with Wayne State for sixth in the league at 7-7 — with the Wildcats holding the tiebreaker over the Warriors — and the possibility of finishing anywhere from fifth to eighth.

Last weekend, the Wildcats (11-14 overall) split two matches on their final home weekend, though the win was more important as a three-set sweep of Northwood insured NMU’s appearance in the conference tourney.

Three Wildcats are ranked in the top five in the GLIAC statistically, according to a report from NMU Sports Information. Sophomore Lizzy Stark

is fourth two times with 350 kills and 3.61 kills per set, while freshman Abigail Durecki is fourth in hitting percentage at .326.

Northern Michigan University's Alyssa Milski and Abigail Durecki prepare to send the ball back over the net during their match against Michigan Tech on Saturday on Nov. 2 at the Vandament Arena in Marquette. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)

In the NMU career record book, senior Sarah Kuehn has 90 blocks this season for 344 in her four-year collegiate career, just 10 blocks shy of sixth all-time. And her 1.11 blocks per set is seventh all-time at Northern.

The Wildcats have a big 58-13 all-time advantage against SVSU, though the Cardinals won in five sets on Sept. 28, taking the final set 18-16.

Northern also has an impressive 85-17-1 all-time record vs. LSSU (8-17, 2-12 GLIAC), though the Lakers snapped a 28-match win streak by Northern with a four-set victory in Marquette on Sept. 27.

Fans can keep up with the Wildcats this weekend online at @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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