Northern Michigan University’s Lauren Van Remortel, left, watches her set go high for a swing by teammate Meghan Meyer, right, during a UP Open college volleyball match against Hillsdale on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

By Journal Sports Staff

DULUTH, Minn. — The Northern Michigan University volleyball team has faced rough sledding to start the season, but if there’s any consolation, their slate of opponents is top-notch.

The Wildcats lost all four matches in the Up North Tournament at the University of Minnesota-Duluth from Thursday through Saturday to fall to 1-7, losing in three sets to St. Cloud State, Central Washington, Southern New Hampshire and the host Bulldogs.

But six of the seven losses have come against teams that are nationally ranked or took part in the NCAA Division II tournament last season, like NMU did.

In addition, top attacker Jacqueline Smith, a junior and All-GLIAC performer a year ago, along with another crucial attacker, senior Evynn Layshock, have both missed a majority of Northern’s matches due to injuries.

With the exception of the Midwest Crossover in mid-October, the Wildcats play GLIAC matches for the rest of the regular season. That part of the schedule begins at home at Vandament Arena this week with matches against Davenport at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Grand Valley State at 5 p.m. Saturday. Saturday will also be Homecoming and Alumni Day at Vandament.

Here is a roundup of Friday’s and Saturday’s play at the Up North event:

Central Washington 3, NMU 0

On Friday afternoon, No. 23 nationally ranked CWU, like NMU known as the Wildcats, prevailed 25-19, 25-12, 25-17.

Sophomore outside hitter Rayne Thompson led the Northern attack with 11 kills, while junior middle blocker Meghan Meyer had seven and senior middle blocker Ania Hyatt three. In addition, senior setter Lauren Van Remortel had all 28 of the Wildcats’ assists, junior defensive specialist Caylie Barlage had six digs and freshman defensive specialist Liesl Haugen two service aces.

Thompson matched CWU’s Ashley Kaufman and Scottie Ellsworth for most kills in the match, though Central Washington had a much higher attack percentage, .481 to .099.

NMU jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first set with a pair of kills opening things by Thompson, and Northern still had it tied 12-12 before CWU pulled away, though Central Washington never scored more than two points in a row through the end of the set. Meyer and teammate Sydney Bartels each had a pair of kills down the stretch.

In the least competitive second set, CWU jumped out to a 7-2 lead, upping that to 22-8 after a 7-1 run.

CWU also raced to a 9-3 advantage to start the third set, but Northern managed a 4-1 run later in the set to stay within 15-10. That surge included kills by Thompson and Hyatt and an ace by Haugen.

Despite a late NMU 3-1 streak, each point a Thompson kill, CWU’s Ellie Marble ended the set and match with a kill.

Southern New Hampshire 3, NMU 0

On Friday evening, the Penmen, famous for their TV commercials touting their online course offerings, won 25-17, 25-23, 25-20.

Meyer led Northern with 17 kills, while Haugen had 16 digs and Van Remortel 35 assists.

The Wildcats took their final lead of the opening set after a 4-0 run made it 9-7 as Meyer, Van Remortel and Thompson each had a kill and Haugen an ace.

NMU still had it tied 11-11 before SNH rattled off an 11-3 run to take a 22-14 advantage.

Northern fell in 8-3 and 15-8 holes to start the second set before a 10-2 run put the Wildcats ahead 18-17. That extended run included by four kills by Meyer, two by Hyatt, one by Thompson and a Helen Beiring ace.

Though the Penmen would retake the lead, NMU scored back-to-back points on a Thompson kill and SNH error to retie it 22-22. And while a Hyatt kill again tied it 23-23, SNH got the final two points on Wildcats’ errors.

In the third set, the Penmen raced to a 6-2 lead. Northern got within three points multiple times later, then cut it to 21-19 on back-to-back points that included a Thompson kill. But the Wildcats couldn’t get closer as the final point that NMU would score in the match was on a Hyatt kill.

Minnesota-Duluth 3, NMU 0

On Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs prevailed 25-21, 25-11, 25-18.

Haugen had nine digs, Meyer seven kills, Van Remortel 24 assists and junior defensive specialist Julia Bouma two aces.

UMD opened the match on a 5-1 run before Northern was able to tie it several times in the first set, the final time 9-9 following a 4-1 run that included two Meyer kills and a Bouma ace.

But a Bulldogs’ 9-2 run got them the lead for good, though NMU pulled within three points multiple times, the final at 24-21 after back-to-back points on kills by Meyer and Thompson. But UMD won the set on their own kill by Madison Gordon.

Set 2 started the much the same way with Duluth jumping out to 5-2, 10-4 and 15-6 leads. Northern’s highlight came late in the set when a Hyatt kill and UMD error got the Wildcats back-to-back points.

And the Bulldogs were emphatic at both the start and end of the third set, staring with a 6-1 run and ending with an even better 7-0 string after NMU had tied it 18-18.

Northern had come back from a 15-10 deficit with an 8-3 run that included two kills by freshman outside hitter Remi Madison and aces by Bouma and Van Remortel.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.