While the Wildcats are just a modest 5-9 overall, they have accumulated a 4-2 record in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with wins over Wisconsin-Parkside, Roosevelt, Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State over the past two weeks.

The matches are at 6 p.m. today in Houghton vs. the Huskies and at 1 p.m. EDT Saturday in Hammond, Indiana, for a match vs. Purdue Northwest.

While both matches will be streamed on FloCollege, fans can also stay connected at @NMU_Wildcats and @NMU_Volleyball on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for updates throughout the weekend.

Or visit the NMU athletics website at nmuwildcats.com and look under the volleyball schedule for links to live video, live statistics and a preview.

“We are working on being able to slow down their outsides,” Northern head coach Mike Lozier told NMU Sports Information in a weekend preview, though specifically talking about today’s match. “We are changing our defense and our blocking scheme a bit.

“The best way to quiet a crowd is to do it on the scoreboard, and the hope is we come out fast and take control from there.”

With NMU having had just two home matches at Vandament Arena so far, the Wildcats are used to being away from home.

Libero Liesl Haugen played a key role in last week’s victories while earning her second GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honor of her career this week.

She tied a season-high with 25 digs in five sets vs. SVSU and added 16 more in the three-set sweep of Lake State. Haugen averages 4.88 digs per set in four conference matches, No. 4 in the league.

Offensively, McKenzie Gruner has at least 13 kills with an attack percentage of at least .300 in each of the last four matches, including back-to-back 16-kill outings last week.

Her 74 kills rank her seventh in the GLIAC in league matches, her .388 hitting percentage is No. 1.

The Huskies match NMU with a 4-2 conference mark, while they are 7-6 overall. They’re both tied for third with Davenport, a half-game behind Grand Valley State (4-1) and one game behind Ferris State (5-1).

MTU averages 13.2 kills and 12.3 assists per set, with Jacqueline Yancy getting 129 kills and Rachel Zurek 126 for a dynamic 1-2 punch on offense.

Setter Tess Hayes was named GLIAC Setter of the Week two weeks ago.

Purdue NW is just off their pace at 3-3 in the GLIAC, 6-6 overall, coming off defeats in straight sets to Wayne State and GVSU last week. The Pride average 12.4 kills and 11.5 assists per set.

Anika Huelskamp has 119 kills, Arra Cottrell 118 and Allyson Cathey 107. PNW ranks first in the GLIAC in service aces per set with 2.13 and second in blocks per set with 2.33.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the matches

. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.