MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University volleyball team embarks on its longest road trip of the season at a critical time in the GLIAC schedule beginning tonight in Ohio.

The Wildcats play the first of six straight matches away from home when they play Ashland at 7 p.m. today.

They follow it up with a 2 p.m. Saturday match at Wayne State in Detroit.

NMU is 10-5 overall, but just 2-5 in league matches.

To follow the team online, check the team schedule or composite calendar at www.NMUwildcats.com, or use these individual links — on Twitter, https://twitter.com/NMU_Wildcats; for tonight’s match, live statistics at http://nmuwildcats.com/sports/wvball/2018-19/boxscores/20180928_lluv.xml; and for Saturday’s match, live stats at http://nmuwildcats. com/sports/wvball/2018-19/boxscores/20180929_1pa7.xml and live video at https://wsuathletics.com/watch/?Live=563&type=Live.

The Wildcats rank second in the GLIAC with 13.55 kills per set, while their 786 kills are third. They hit .199 and have 153 more kills than their opponents.

Sophomore Leticia Antunes leads the way with 196 kills and a 3.38 average per set, adding 10 service aces.

Junior Sarah Kuehn hits at a .351 clip with 161 kills, third most on the team.

Senior Lynzi Svoboda has 588 assists, 10.1 per set, an average that is fifth in the league and 24th nationally.

Senior Autumn Monsma is top three on the team with 17 aces (first), 169 kills (second) and 179 digs (third).

NMU holds a 19-11 edge over Ashland all-time, with the last three encounters each going five sets, two to the Eagles. In their last matchup, at Vandament Arena in 2017, was won by Northern.

But Ashland is 14-2 overall this season and undefeated and in first place in the GLIAC.

The Wildcats are 40-20 all-time vs. Wayne State, dating back to 1975. NMU won in four sets in Detroit last season.

This year, WSU is 9-6 overall and 4-3 in the league, hosting Michigan Tech tonight before taking on NMU.

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