Northern Michigan University's Lizzy Stark, center, tips the ball to the middle of the court in the second set of a GLIAC volleyball match against Grand Valley State played in the Vandament Arena in Marquette on Sept. 9. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University volleyball team has gone from being chased to doing the chasing now that the Wildcats are in a tie for second place in the GLIAC.

NMU is also back home after a four-match streak on the road. Northern hosts Saginaw Valley State at 4 p.m. today at Vandament Arena.

The Wildcats entered the weekend at 7-2 in the GLIAC, tied with Davenport for second place and a game behind Ferris State, which NMU lost to in four sets last weekend to fall out of a share of first place. Northern still boasted the league’s best overall mark at 14-3.

Both of this weekend’s opponents — the Wildcats hosted Wayne State on Friday night — are in the middle of the pack at 5-4 in the conference.

The Wildcats have a big 61-15 lead in their series vs. SVSU.

NMU was only chosen sixth in the GLIAC preseason coaches poll despite bringing back All-GLIAC First Team performer Jacqueline Smith, who last weekend had 20 kills vs. Ferris and 22 in a five-set victory at Lake Superior State.

Last year, Smith was third in the league in kills and kills per set, leading the conference in total attacks and fourth on the team in hitting percentage.

This season, Smith leads the league in both kills categories with 303 total kills and 4.66 per set.

Lizzy Stark and Meghan Meyer were also named All-GLIAC last season. Meyer currently leads the GLIAC by a wide margin with a .452 hitting percentage as No. 2 attacker Jaelianna Primus of Grand Valley is only at .336.

Fans can follow the team and their matches this weekend online with live statistics at bit.ly/3A5i5Uu and a live stream at bit.ly/3TO1wWj.

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