This story was written by NMU Sports Information. Photo courtesy of NMU.
PENSACOLA, Fla. - The new-look Northern Michigan volleyball team opened up the 2025 season in grand fashion, defeating (RV) Wheeling University in four sets at the SpringHill Suites Invitational in the Sunshine State.
The Wildcats dropped the opening set 17-25, but once the group got into rhythm and found its identity, the Green and Gold looked like they were in midseason form, winning the following three sets 25-21, 26-24, and 25-16.
"I'm very proud of the team tonight," coach Mike Lozier said following the win. "We started slow, but they answered my call to step up."
Junior setter Allie Barlow quarterbacked the offense with 55 assists. Barlow made things hard on Wheeling's defense and blocking efforts, spreading the ball around and always presenting confusion on where NMU's point of attack would come from.
Kaysie Bakke led the way with 17 kills on a .400 attack percentage, followed by McKenzie Gruner with 15 kills hitting .500, Sydney Bartels with 13 kills hitting .344, and Emilia Gulock with eight kills hitting .316.
All four matched or exceeded their previous career-best in kills. "We had players out there who have spent years being in a supporting role, and tonight they got to show what they are made of," added Lozier.
The group of Bakke, Gruner, Bartels, and Gulock collectively put up numbers that are tough to come by in volleyball, with each of them putting up at least eight kills while hitting over .300.
For the match, the Northern offense got better in each in every set: .116, .314, .325, and .367. Overall, the attack percentage was .270 with 60 kills, a number they only exceeded once last season in four-set matches. Defensively, NMU recorded 60 digs, with Liesl Haugen's 20 pacing the way. Bartels contributed another 13. Haugen also recorded four of Northern's eight aces.
The Wheeling Cardinals hit .182 and racked up 45 kills, with Cami Black leading the team with 15.
