Click the AUDIO buttons to hear Max Stevens' post-game interview with NMU Coach Mike Lozier, and Michigan Tech Coach Matt Jennings (from Tech Athletics)

Story courtesy of Michigan Tech Athletics.

HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech led from start to finish in a dominant 3-0 sweep of rival Northern Michigan Tuesday at the SDC Gym. The Huskies won 25-15, 25-21, and 25-12 to hand the Wildcats their fourth GLIAC loss of the season and improve to 16-8 overall and 8-6 in the conference.

"It always a good day when we can play that well and beat a good team," Tech coach Matt Jennings said. "We felt like we played well Friday against Grand Valley and Davenport may have exposed us in some areas. It was good to see that we were the aggressor today and made a quick turnaround and stepped up in all areas of the game."

Grace Novotny set the tone by opening the match with back-to-back aces, and the Huskies jumped out to a 10-3 lead. Meg Raabe pounded down seven of Tech's 14 kills in the first set.

The Huskies closed on a 10-4 run while forcing NMU into seven attacking errors for a 25-15 win.

Three of the first five points in the second set were kills by Makena Wesol. The Huskies led by as many as seven with Wesol leading the attack with seven kills. Leading 23-21, Lina Espejo-Ramirez turned to Wesol for setpoint, and then Kaycee Meiners finished it off for a 25-21 win and a 2-0 lead heading into the break.

Meg Raabe got hot again in the third with back-to-back kills for a 3-0 lead and again finished with seven kills in the frame. Tech carried their momentum into an 11-point lead and never looked back. The visitors were forced into nine attacking errors in the third and the Huskies hit .333. Jillian Kuizenga had a point to make it 23-12 before a pair of errors by NMU gave the Black and Gold the straight-set win.

Meg Raabe tallied a match-high 17 kills while hitting .421 and adding eight digs and a pair of block assists.

"We've been working to play like we did tonight," Raabe said. "We need to continue to focus on our energy and capitalizing on our runs. We're going to keep working to get better every day."

Makena Wesol added nine kills and Kaycee Meiners finished with eight. Lina Espejo-Ramirez set the offense with 32 assists and added nine digs. Carissa Beyer hit 20 digs for the seventh time this season and Brooke Dzwik chipped in with 10 digs.

Janie Grindland put her stamp on the match with four blocks, three kills, and two aces.

"We were looking for revenge after our performance at Northern," added Grindland. "It was just so fun out there tonight. For us seniors, this could be our last time playing Northern, so we came out with a chip on our shoulder."

The Huskies head back downstate on the weekend to Wayne State Friday and Saginaw Valley State Saturday.

STORY WRITTEN BY NMU SPORTS INFORMATION

HOUGHTON, Mich. - The NMU Volleyball team saw action at Michigan Technological University this evening.  The 'Cats fell in three sets to the Huskies.

MTU opened up the first set with two points. Rayne Thompson tallied the first point of the night for the 'Cats bringing the score to 1-2.

A service error on the 'Cats gave the Huskies the serve once again, and they went on to raise the score to 1-5.

Stark found the open spot on the court and placed a kill.

The Huskies still looking strong, moved the score up to 3-10. An attack error gave the 'Cats a point.

Moments later, Jacqueline Smith posted a point and started a rally for the 'Cats. The score climbed to 9-11.

Michigan Tech tallied three more points, but Olivia Webber earned a point for NMU which brought the score to 10-14.

With the Huskies still in control, Lizzie Stark found her stride and earned two in a row.

Michigan Tech claimed set one, 15-25.

The Huskies earned the first three points of set two. An attack error on MTU allowed NMU to earn one.

Stark and Meyer both tallied kills to lessen the point gap, 4-5.

Michigan Tech continued to climb, but Stark placed a kill in the open court. The score was now 6-9. 

Jacqueline Smith gained momentum and tipped it over the net to give the 'Cats another. 

A few rallies later, Olivia Webber shined and placed a ball close to the line for a point.

With the Huskies placing the ball long, Lauren Van Remortel went to the line. The Huskies used the whole court and earned the point.

With a point gap of five, in favor of MTU, Webber smashed it over to allow Smith to serve. 

Following a point by the Huskies, they served an error to give the 'Cats one.

With a score of 11-17, Rayne Thompson Launched a quick ball over. The Huskies could not retrieve it. 

Caylie Barlage stepped to the line, Stark followed with a kill. The 'Cats raised the score to 14-17.

MTU pushed the score to 14-21, played the ball long, and gave the 'Cats a point. Following this point, Smith tipped the ball over the net to earn another.

The 'Cats were coming to life and saw a score of 17-22.

The Huskies used their home-court advantage, but Webber was having a night and tallied another kill. The score was now 19-23. Van Remortel went to the line and served two essential aces.

The 'Cats couldn't make the comeback and fell in the second 21-25.

The Huskies also claimed the first three points of the set. An error gave the 'Cats their first point.

Smith stepped to the line to serve, but a block from Michigan Tech brought the score to 1-4.  A few points later, a block by Meyer and Webber added one for NMU.

Lizzy Stark launched a ball over to put Barlage at the line. MTU won the point to bring the score to 3-7.

With tech leading the set 3-9, Stark answered and earned one. 

Meghan Meyer found a spot on the court, followed by Webber to post two.

At a score of 6-13, Coach Mike Lozier called a timeout. This seemed to aid the 'Cats as they earned another point.

A service error on the Huskies gave NMU the ball and a point.

MTU was playing strong all-around and now had an 11-point lead. A service error on the huskies allowed the 'Cats to snag a point.

A few rallies later, Stark placed an unretrievable kill to bring the score to 10-20. Barlage went to the line to serve one for the 'Cats.

The Huskies were too strong and secured the third set, 12-25. They finished the match in a clean sweep.

Lizzy Stark led the team with 13 kills.

Olivia Webber had a hitting percentage of .312.

Lauren Van Remortel posted two service aces.

The 'Cats will go below the Mackinac to compete at Saginaw Valley State on Oct. 28, 2022. The match time is set for 7 p.m.