Wildcats emerge out of GLIAC volleyball quarters
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Northern Michigan University's KC Fortune, left, bumps the ball to set up the Wildcats' front row during a GLIAC volleyball match played against Grand Valley State at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Oct. 30. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
Recently coming out on top in a four-way tiebreaker for the tourney's No. 3 seed, the Wildcats defeated No. 6 Saginaw Valley State in three straight sets at Vandament Arena on Wednesday night.
Each of those four tied teams -- which also included No. 4 seed Davenport and No. 5 Michigan Tech -- finished with identical 9-7 records in the GLIAC. But NMU and Davenport did well enough in the tiebreaker to draw home court against the other two to start the tourney.
It didn't help Davenport, though, as MTU traveled to Grand Rapids and defeated the Panthers in four sets in another quarterfinal on Wednesday.
The two top seeds were also at home and advanced, No. 1 and undefeated Ferris State downing No. 8 Wisconsin-Parkside in four sets, while No. 2 Grand Valley State zipped past No. 7 Saginaw Valley State in three.
That sets up today's semifinals in Big Rapids, the home of unanimous national No. 1 Ferris, with Northern facing Grand Valley at 6:30 p.m., that match following Ferris vs. MTU at 4 p.m.
Semifinal winners return to the Bulldogs' arena at 4 p.m. Saturday for the conference finals and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II tournament.
The Wildcats have a mighty challenge ahead of them in facing Grand Valley, which is now 23-6 and finished 14-2 in the GLIAC, its league losses to 27-0 Ferris in their only meeting and once in two meetings with Michigan Tech.
The nationally ranked No. 20 Lakers swept NMU in three sets each time they met, Sept. 26 in Allendale, 27-25, 25-19, 25-19, and Oct. 30 in Marquette, 25-16, 25-19, 25-23.
Awaiting in the finals will be either Ferris or MTU. Northern lost to Ferris in three sets during the regular season in their only meeting, while the Wildcats prevailed over the Huskies in both their meetings in five and four sets.
Back to Wednesday, however. The Wildcats prevailed pretty decisively, winning 25-15, 25-20, 25-19 to avenge the teams' single meeting during the regular season, a four-set victory by SVSU in Marquette on Sept. 19.
"Tonight was a huge win against an incredibly talented and experienced team," Northern assistant coach Lauren Van Remortel said in an NMU Sports Information news release reviewing the match. "Bigger stage than normal, especially for our younger ones, and we played one of our most dominant matches the entire season.
"The way we maintained composure and executed the game plan was something to be very proud of. Looking forward to another opportunity with this group."
As the score indicates, the Wildcats had decisive advantages in several team categories, specifically on offense with a .258 attack percentage compared to SVSU's .091, while making 36 kills to the Cardinals' 25. NMU also won the war in assists, 33-24, and service aces, 9-4.
Saginaw Valley had a 6-4 edge in blocks as digs were even, 42-42.
Northern's KC Fortune was the only player on either team to even come close to double-digit kills with 12, as teammate Laynie Russell had seven and Anna O'Keefe six.
Fortune also had eight digs, while Lauren Cardwell led the Wildcats in that category with nine, as Allie Barlow also had eight digs to go with 30 assists and two aces.
Russell led Northern with four blocks as O'Keefe had two, while Sydney Bartels had a match-high four aces.
NMU jumped out quickly, scoring the first six points of the match that included McIntosh and Russell kills, a Barlow ace, and a block by Russell and O'Keefe that directly produced a point.
SVSU played even for a few points until another NMU 5-1 run made it 12-4, this string including two kills each by Fortune and O'Keefe, and an O'Keefe ace.
With neither team stringing together much in the way of points after that, Northern kept at least a five-point lead the rest of the set, ending it on a 4-0 run that saw a pair of Larsen Bonstetter kills, including the set clincher, and a Fortune ace.
The second set started much closer, neither scoring more than two points in a row until the Wildcats made a three-point run to give them a 12-10 lead. That streak included a Fortune kill and a combined block by O'Keefe and Russell for a point.
Though the Cardinals tied it at 12-12, 13-13 and 14-14, one more NMU 3-0 streak put the home team ahead for good. That string included Fortune and Kaylie McIntosh kills.
Northern reached set point at 24-19, and while SVSU saved the first one, Fortune ended the set with a kill.
NMU jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the third set with three points in a row after a Fortune kill and combined block by Fortune and Russell.
But the Cardinals clawed back to tie it 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9 before a decisive 6-0 run by the Wildcats seemed to put an end to the match. That spurt included all four of Bartels' aces on consecutive points, along with one kill each by McIntosh and O'Keefe.
Then the visitors countered with a 6-1 run to get within 17-16. The teams traded points, NMU leading 20-18, until Northern again pulled off a 5-1 string to end the set and match. That spurt included a Barlow ace, Fortune kill, and on match point, a Russell kill.
Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the match. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.