Lizzy Stark

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University volleyball team ran its winning streak to seven matches and record to 7-1 with a weekend home sweep of Northwood at Vandament Arena on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

In fact, the Wildcats swept every set over the two matches, winning each 3-0, their first sweeps of the season. NMU prevailed 25-18, 25-15, 25-12 on Friday, then had a better challenge Saturday, winning 25-18, 25-18, 30-28.

Northern now hits the road for five of its final six matches of the season, including each of its next five. The Wildcats go to Lake Superior State on Friday and Saturday afternoons before going to Davenport on March 26-27 and face Michigan Tech in a home-and-home series to end the regular season on April 2-3. The Friday match will be in Houghton and Saturday’s in Marquette.

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NMU rolls on Friday

Lizzy Stark led Northern with 10 kills and 10 digs, while Meghan Meyer hit at a .700 percentage. Alli Yacko added a team-high 13 digs, while Jacqueline Smith and Ania Hyatt each had three blocks and Lauren Van Remortel had three service aces.

NMU went on an early 5-0 run in the first set to establish a lead, then held off a late Timberwolves charge that brought them within four points three times.

A Smith kill and Smith and Meyer block highlighted an early 7-0 run in the second set.

The third set was the most contested. NMU broke a 7-7 tie with a 10-point run including two kills each by Smith and Hyatt and one by Van Remortel, along with a Smith and Hyatt block.

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NMU wins marathon 3rd set

On Saturday, the Wildcats started strong with back-to-back kills by Smith, though Northwood pulled within 6-5. NMU help them off, however, finishing off the set with a Smith kill and Yacko ace.

In the second set, a Hyatt kill and two blocks by Smith and Meyer helped NMU go ahead after a 13-13 tie. Another 4-0 run made it 20-14 NMU as the home team hit at a .368 clip in the set.

The T’wolves were up 3-0 in the final set before a Van Remortel kill made it 9-8 Northern. Then with the scored tied 22-22, the teams began an extended exchange of points that ended with NMU winning the final three points on kills by Meyer, Smith and Hailey Wickstrom.

Smith finished with 19 kills and .390 hitting percentage, while Meyer’s 13 kills were part of her sterling .667 hit percentage.

Meyer also had a team-high five blocks, two solo, while Smith had four. Yacko made 18 digs and Stark 10 as Yacko and Van Remortel each had an ace.

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