PERFECT TRIP: 'Cats Sweep Matches In Kentucky
The Northern Michigan University volleyball team wrapped up a perfect 4-0 trip to Kentucky on Saturday with wins over William Jewell (Mo.) College and Tiffin (Ohio) University.
Stories courtesy of NMU Sports Information
OWENSBORO, KY. - The Northern Michigan University Volleyball team finished up the Kentucky Wesleyan Tournament with a matchup against William Jewell College.
The Wildcats were able to come out on top 3-2 over the Cardinals.
William Jewell got the scoring started with a point from an attack error from the Wildcats. The Wildcats answered right back with a kill from Meghan Meyer.
The Cardinals jumped out to an early 14-3 lead after a slow start by the Wildcats. The Wildcats ended the Cardinal run with a kill by Rayne Thompson, assisted by Lauren Van Remortel.
The Wildcats then went on a run of their own led by Jacqueline Smith, who had two kills, and Meghan Meyer who also had a kill. This brought the score up to 16-7 in favor of the Cardinals.
The Cardinals went on an 8-6 run to close out the first set. Lizzy Stark and Jacqueline Smith had two kills each for the Wildcats.
The Cardinals took the first set 25-15.
The Wildcats jumped out to an early 8-2 lead in the second set. Lizzy Stark added two kills and Jacqueline Smith added one kill during that stretch.
The Cardinals climbed right back in it with a 7-1 run to even the score at 9 before the Wildcats called a timeout.
Coming out of the timeout both teams went back and forth for most of the set until a run by the Cardinals closed out the second set.
Lizzy Stark continued her impressive day with four kills during the final stretch of the second set. Meghan Meyer and Jacqueline Smith were responsible for kills as well.
Their efforts weren't enough as the Cardinals won set two 25-19.
After dropping the first two sets, the Wildcats came out firing as Rayne Thompson had a kill, and Lizzy Stark followed that up with a kill of her own. Lauren Van Remortel assisted on both kills.
After jumping out to an early lead, the Cardinals made a comeback to tie the set at 8.
Jacqueline Smith gave the lead back to the Wildcats with a kill from Lauren Van Remortel.
Two attack errors by the Wildcats and a kill for the Cardinals gave them a 12-9 lead. Two more attack errors gave the Cardinals a 14-9 lead.
A Wildcat run led by Angelina Negron, who had a kill, and a service ace brought them to within one point.
Back-to-back kills by Rayne Thompson and Lizzy Stark to tie the set at 16 forced the Cardinals to use a timeout.
Both teams went back and forth for the next couple of points to bring the score to 21-20 in favor of the Wildcats.
The Wildcats closed out the third set with four straight points, a service ace by Lauren Van Remortel, a kill by Alli Yacko, and a kill by Jacqueline Smith.
The Wildcats took the third set 25-20.
Winning a crucial third set, the Wildcats came into a must-win fourth set.
The Wildcats came out firing on all cylinders. They jumped out to a 6-1 lead early in the set. The Cardinals were forced to call a timeout.
Jacqueline Smith had back-to-back kills to keep the Wildcats in the lead 12-7.
The Wildcats continued a very impressive set on a service ace by Jacqueline Smith and a kill by Lizzy Stark to give them an 18-10 lead.
The Wildcats were able to close out the set 25-14 and force a fifth set.
Jacqueline Smith started the fifth set with back-to-back kills from Lauren Van Remortel.
Jacqueline Smith added two more kills on a streak of four points in a row by the Wildcats. The Cardinals called a timeout as the Wildcats jumped out to an 8-1 lead.
Coming out of the timeout, the Wildcats added another point on a kill from Meghan Meyer. Jacqueline Smith assisted on the kill.
The Wildcats would continue to extend their lead, and would eventually take the fifth and final set 15-6, taking the game 3 sets to 2.
Jacqueline Smith and Lizzy Stark led the way for the Wildcats with 20 kills each.
Meghan Meyer added 12 kills of her own.
Lauren Van Remortel finished with 46 assists.
Jacqueline Smith had 3 service aces.
Alli Yacko finished with 18 digs.
The Wildcats took on the Tiffin University Dragons for their seventh match of the campaign. NMU won the match, 3-1.
Tiffin opened up the set and match with a kill. The GLIAC leader in kills, Jacqueline Smith answered back and tied the set back up at one. NMU gained the serve, and Meghan Meyer completed a kill assisted by Lauren Van Remortel.
The Dragons found their momentum early in the set and pulled the lead to 6-3. Lizzy Stark lasered a strike over the net, which led the 'Cats to add two on the board.
A service ace from Alli Yacko tied the set at eight. Tiffin was so stunned by the ace, that they had an attack error and gave the 'Cats the lead. The Dragons claimed four more points to take the lead back, the set was now at 9-12.
NMU called a timeout to plan their next moves and went on to score a point. Olivia Webber added a kill to her stats, but the 'Cats still trailed 14-16.
Caylie Barlage set up a spike for Smith, which led to NMU adding two more points. Quickly after the 'Cats found their momentum and tied the set at 21.
Tiffin pulled the lead to 24-21, but NMU and Smith answered and tied it up once again at 24.
After forcing the score to climb past 25, NMU took the first set 30-28.
The Dragons opened up set two with a block and a kill from Smith. Meyer went on to tie it up with a strategically placed spike. Lizzy Stark attempted to place another, but had an error and gave the Dragons the lead, 1-2.
Ania Hyatt retaliated and started a two-point streak for the 'Cats, which gave the lead to NMU.
Tiffin gained the lead once again. After many intense volleys, Olivia Webber blocked a shot to narrow the gap to 6-8.
Tiffin continued to take the lead through the middle of the set, but Stark, Smith, and Meyer put some crucial points on the board.
NMU took a timeout when the score was at 12-16, but they couldn't gain the lead. The Dragons took set two, 20-25.
NMU started the set out strong going on a three-point run. Tiffin quickly retaliated and brought the set to a tie at four.
The play was even through the beginning of the set, with each team switching off the lead.
Tiffin had two attack errors and NMU went on a three-point run to bring the lead to 12-10.
After some volleys, Lauren Van Remortel had a beautiful set to Lizzy Stark, and the 'Cats held the lead 14-12.
Stunned from the point prior, The Dragons followed with two attack errors. This widened the lead to 16-13. Caylie Barlage was making fantastic contact with the ball and set up two crucial points for the 'Cats. They still had the lead 18-15.
Tiffin called a time-out at a score of 19-16 but could not keep up with the 'Cats.
An ace by Barlage brought the team to set point, and NMU sealed the win 25-21.
Tiffin opened up the set with the first two points and held the lead up until the set was tied up at six.
Madeline Crowley gained the lead for the 'Cats with an ace. They then went on a three-point streak.
Tiffin earned an ace, but after an error. The ball was back in the hands of Alli Yacko. She started with an ace and went on to serve two more points for the team. The score was now 13-8.
Barlage set a beautiful ball to Smith and completed the spike, putting Van Remortel at the line to serve. She earned NMU four points with her effortless serve.
Tiffin could not claim a serve, and the 'Cats went on a six-point run to take the set 25-10.
Jacqueline Smith posted a season-high 20 kills in the match
Lizzy Stark tied her season high in kills with 15
Olivia Webber had a hitting percentage of .692
Lauren Van Remortel led the team in assists with 28.
