NMU plays four matches Friday and Saturday in the Kentucky Wesleyan Tournament in Owensboro, Kentucky. On Friday, Northern (3-1) faces Henderson State (Arkansas) at 9 a.m. and the host Panthers at 1 p.m., then on Saturday, the Wildcats play former GLIAC member Tiffin at 11 a.m. and William Jewell (Missouri) at 3 p.m.

Northern then jumps into GLIAC play the following weekend, hosting Grand Valley State on Friday, Sept. 9, and Davenport on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Though no conference matches have been played, the Wildcats are tied for the second-best overall record in the 10-team GLIAC as Davenport, GVSU and Wayne State are also 3-1, while Michigan Tech is a perfect 4-0.

Three All-GLIAC performers return to NMU from a year ago, led by First Teamer Jacqueline Smith. The junior was third in the league in total kills with 381 and kills per set at 3.77. She also led the league in total attacks with 1,155 and was fourth for NMU in hitting percentage at .182.

GLIAC Second Teamers Lizzy Stark, a senior, and Meghan Meyer, a sophomore, followed Smith in kills for the Wildcats. Stark was second with 298 and Meyer third with 218.

They were in the same position in total attacks with 844 and 508, respectively, just after Smith.

And Meyer led NMU in hitting percentage at .281 while Stark was second in digs with 251.

After losing 3-0 in an exhibition match vs. NCAA Division I Central Michigan on Mackinac Island on Aug. 20, Northern won three of four at the NMU Open last weekend. The Wildcats defeated Minnesota-Crookston in three sets, Bemidji State in four sets and Upper Iowa in five sets while losing a five-setter to Cedarville.

Regarding the Kentucky Wesleyan tourney, Northern has never played either of Friday’s opponents as Henderson is 2-2 so far this season and Kentucky Wesleyan is 1-0.

Being a former GLIAC member, NMU has much more familiarity with Tiffin with a 9-2 all-time mark vs. the Dragons, including a current six-match winning streak.

The Wildcats have only met William Jewell once, an NMU five-set victory in 2016.

Fans can follow Northern at this tourney with live statistics available at bit.ly/3A5i5Uu and a live streaming at bit.ly/3CLpISX.

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