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MARQUETTE — A big home weekend starts early — tonight — for the Northern Michigan University volleyball team as the Wildcats host Michigan Tech at 6:30 p.m. in Vandament Arena.

NMU completes the two-matches-in-two-days quest by entertaining GLIAC newcomer Roosevelt on Friday, also at 6:30 p.m. and also at Vandament.

The matches complete a six-match homestand for these Wildcats, who are already 3-1 in their recent hosting duties that began Sept. 27 with a win over Davenport.

Northern Michigan University’s Leisl Haugen finishes the dig of an errant ball and keeps it in playin the second set of a GLIAC volleyball match played against Saginaw Valley State at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Friday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

Northern also lost to nationally ranked and GLIAC leader Ferris State the next day before dispatching Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State last weekend, all four of those matches lasting four sets.

The Wildcats, who are 9-4 overall, are in second place in the league at 5-1, tied with Grand Valley State and a game behind Ferris.

Tonight’s match will be televised by Fox-U.P. with Mark Evans and Dave Ellis making the call, while both tonight’s encounter and Friday’s vs. Roosevelt will be broadcast on the radio. Tonight’s match is on WUPT 100.3 FM The Point, while Friday’s is on WUPK 94.1 FM The Breeze, since the Northern hockey team will be on WUPT simultaneously.

Fans can also follow @NMU_Wildcats and @NMU_Volleyball on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the matches, while a visit to the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com, and looking under the volleyball schedule, will yield links to live audio, live video, live statistics, ticket information, the weekend program, and previews and series history between the teams.

Tonight’s match is also designated as Green Out for Mental Health Awareness night in partnership with Hilinski’s Hope.

The Northern Michigan University bench reacts to a third consecutive ace by Meghan Meyer in the first set of a GLIAC volleyball match played against Saginaw Valley State at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Friday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

After Friday, Northern hits the road until the first day of November, playing at the Midwest Crossover at Purdue Northwest in Hammond, Indiana, next weekend on Oct. 18-19 — three matches are scheduled with opponents and times still to be announced — then traveling to Grand Valley State on Oct. 25, Wayne State on Oct. 26 and a return engagement with MTU on Wednesday, Oct. 30. That 6 p.m. match in Houghton should also be televised on Fox-U.P. or WLUC-TV6.

Their return home comes on Friday, Nov. 1, with a 4 p.m. match against Purdue Northwest.

Last weekend was one to remember for the Wildcats after fifth-year senior outside hitter Jacqueline Smith broke a 31-year-old school record for career kills when she made her 1,665th against LSSU. She now has 1,678.

The record had stood since Andrea Gommans established it in 1993 in the midst of back-to-back national championships by Northern volleyball teams in 1993 and 1994. The Wildcats were also national runners-up in 1992 and 1995.

“Getting a sweep at home was huge for us and we are really proud of Jacqui for breaking a 30-year record,” NMU head coach Mike Lozier said in an NMU Sports Information news release previewing the weekend. “We’ve had some memorable matchups (with Michigan Tech) and we have to be ready to go.

“They’ve never been in our gym and we have to use that to our advantage,” he added, talking about the improvements and expansion of Vandament Arena that was dedicated a month ago.

Tech (8-5 overall) is nipping on the Wildcats’ heels in the GLIAC at 4-2, while Roosevelt has struggled in its opening GLIAC campaign, sitting at 1-13 and 0-6.

Last season, Northern won two of three matches from the Huskies, including a five-set comeback victory in the only match played in Marquette.

Smith is not only closing out a stellar career, but is in the midst of a big season, having registered double-digit kills in 12 of 13 matches, including a career-high 27 vs. Truman State that is the highest by any GLIAC player in any match this fall.

Smith, who sits second in the conference with 207 kills, also exceeded 1,000 career digs earlier this season to become the 18th NMU player to achieve that feat. Current teammate Caylie Barlage could become the 19th as she now has 921.

Wildcat Allie Barlow leads all conference setters with 516 assists and is second in the league with 24 service aces.

And libero Liesl Haugen leads NMU and is third in the GLIAC with 199 digs.

Making big contributions throughout the season, but particularly last weekend, McKenzie Gruner and Meghan Mayer combined for 38 kills over the pair of matches, Meyer getting 21.

Meyer leads Northern with 25 blocks as Gruner has 24, and Meyer’s .376 attack percentage is fourth in the league, while her 950 kills has her in range of reaching 1,000 in that statistic.

The last time the Wildcats and Huskies squared off was in the GLIAC quarterfinals when MTU won in Houghton. This fall, junior Meg Raabe leads Tech with 169 kills while sophomore Amelia Ambers has 138.

Roosevelt’s lone win this season was a four-setter over former conference member Malone as the Lakers are on a 12-match losing streak, all three-set sweeps.

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