Northern Michigan University’s Jacqueline Smith, top, watches the ball while setting up a kill attempt in a Wildcats’ 2023 match at Vandament Arena in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University volleyball team will play its first home match of the season late this afternoon, but just as importantly, it will be the debut of the newly expanded Vandament Arena.

With the Wildcats hosting former GLIAC member Findlay at 5 p.m., a rededication ceremony precedes it at 3 p.m. with all fans welcome to attend.

In addition, a commemorative rally towel will be handed out at the entrance to the Vandament ahead of the match.

This match will be the first of three for NMU this weekend, the other two taking place in Houghton as part of the Upper Peninsula Open hosted by Michigan Tech.

NMU faces two national powerhouses at the U.P. Open, facing No. 14 Minnesota Duluth at 3 p.m. Friday and No. 7 St. Cloud State at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Fans can follow the action at @NMU_Volleyball and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly Twitter) for updates throughout these matches. Or visit the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the volleyball schedule for links to live video and audio, live statistics, previews, series history and ticket information for today’s match.

“The excitement and anticipation going into this match is palpable,” Wildcats head coach Mike Lozier said about today’s match in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing this week’s action. “We want to make sure we put on a show for these fans in the first match in Vandament.

“The girls are really excited and we want to perform against a regional opponent.”

Northern opened its season with a whirlwind of action at the Minnesota State Tournament in Mankato, Minnesota, winning three of four matches against teams from the home state, Iowa and Missouri.

The Wildcats swept Minnesota State-Moorhead and Upper Iowa in three sets apiece, then won a five-setter over Truman State and lost a five-setter to the host Mavericks.

NMU fifth-year senior Jacqueline Smith, already a four-time All-GLIAC selection in her collegiate career, accumulated 68 kills over the four matches that lasted 16 sets, which included a career-best 27 kills against Truman.

Teammate Allie Barlow made 163 assists and Meghan Meyer had a .391 attack percentage.

Smith looks to make history this season for NMU, with her current 1,539 career kills second in program history, just 125 behind Andrea Gommans’ 1,664.

Smith’s number is also second in NCAA Division II for active players, only trailing the 1,548 — just nine more — by Kenzie Foley of St. Cloud State. Smith and Foley face off Saturday as each enter the weekend with 68 kills this year.

Another four-time All-GLIAC honoree, Meyer is a 6-foot-tall middle blocker who has been consistent with an impressive .351 career attack percentage. She also looks to reach 1,000 career kills this fall with her now at 880.

Sophomores Liesl Haugen at libero and Allie Barlow at setter are poised to make significant contributions after impressive freshmen campaigns.

Haugen was named an All-GLIAC honorable mention last season with 412 digs to rank her second in the GLIAC with 5.07 digs per set.

Barlow made nine starts last year, recording 297 assists with a 8.03 assist-per-set average. She has 163 assists after the first weekend this year, a top-20 mark nationally.

Eleven other returnees look to take a bigger role for NMU, as well as five newcomers that round out the 20-player squad, the largest roster Lozier has had.

And the Wildcats also welcomed back former setter Lauren Van Remortel as a new addition to the coaching staff.

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