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Ania Hyatt hits career-high in blocks, but Northern Michigan University Wildcats volleyball team still swept by Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech volleyball team proved why it’s the best in the GLIAC with a three-set sweep of visiting Northern Michigan University on Saturday.

The Wildcats put up a good fight in the opening set as the Huskies prevailed 27-25, 25-13, 25-18. NMU fell to 5-11 overall and 2-6 in the GLIAC, while Tech is now 12-4 and 7-1.

Northern’s Ania Hyatt made a career-high four solo blocks even as MTU had none as a team.

Jacqueline Smith led the Wildcats in kills with 11 while adding seven digs and a block assist, while teammate Lizzy Stark had eight kills, six digs and a service ace.

NMU’s Caylie Barlage led her team with nine digs, while Angelina Negron had seven kills, a solo block and a block assist and Meghan Meyer had six kills without an attack error.

Tech’s Anna Jonynas led all players with 16 kills, while teammate Carissa Beyer made 14 digs.

Northern led in the early going of the first set until Tech tied it 8-8. The teams were tied four more times before the Huskies took their first lead at 16-15.

But it was tied another half-dozen times till MTU took a 24-21 lead with four straight points.

The Wildcats battled back, however, tying it at 24-24 and 25-25 before Tech scored the final two points on a kill by Kaycee Meiners and attack error by Northern.

NMU never had the lead in the second set, though it was as close as 8-5 in the early going. Later, a 5-0 run stretched Tech’s lead to 22-11.

The third set was closer early on, with the teams tied 9-9. NMU still only trailed 20-17 before the Huskies reeled off a four-point run to get it to 24-17. Negron made a kill to stave off the first match point, but Tech followed it up with the last point to end it.

Northern travels to Hammond, Indiana, for the Midwest Region Crossover on Friday and Saturday at Purdue Northwest.

Touted as the largest NCAA volleyball tournament in the country, it is scheduled to include 38 teams from the GLIAC, Great Midwest Athletic Conference and Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The Wildcats play Southwest Baptist, Missouri, at 3:30 p.m. EDT Friday, Maryville, Missouri, at 10:30 a.m. EDT Saturday and Ursuline, Ohio, at 5 p.m. EDT Saturday.

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

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