This story, photo courtesy of NMU Sports Information
MARQUETTE, Mich. – Rivalry. Resilience. And one unforgettable finish. In yet another instant classic between U.P. rivals Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech, the Wildcats outlasted the Huskies in a five-set thriller, 23-25, 25-22, 26-24, 14-25, 20-18, behind a career performance from senior McKenzie Gruner, who hammered down 24 kills and carried NMU to victory in front of an electric Vandament Arena crowd on Tuesday night.
The match had everything fans could ask for: 45 ties, 20 lead changes, and nonstop momentum swings that had the crowd on its feet deep throughout the match. Facing three match points in the decisive fifth, the Wildcats dug in and found another gear, rallying to claim a heart-pounding 20-18 final set and their fourth straight win over the rival Huskies.
"Even though it wasn't our best Northern volleyball tonight, I couldn't be more proud of us for getting it done," Gruner said following the match. "There's nothing better than beating Tech in two fifth sets this year. Also, we're really happy with the turnout of the fans tonight. It was a great environment!"
Gruner thrived off the energy from the Vandament faithful, besting her previous career high by eight kills to finish with 24 on a .408 clip, including six in the final frame alone. She added three blocks and several clutch points late to seal the win.
Setter Allie Barlow orchestrated the attack with 59 assists, the second-highest total of her career, and continued her dominance against Tech, as her three best assist performances have all come in the rivalry series. Barlow spread the offense evenly, with four Wildcats reaching double-digit kills: Gruner (24), Madison York (13), Kaysie Bakke (11), and Sydney Bartels (10).
Defensively, NMU turned in one of its grittiest performances of the season, racking up a season-high 97 digs and nine blocks. Liesl Haugen anchored the back line with 28 digs, while Bartels tallied a career-high 17, Barlow added 16, and Remi Madison contributed a career-best 13.
The Wildcats finished with 65 kills and a .154 hitting percentage to Tech's 57 kills on .177 hitting. The Huskies held a 13–9 edge in blocks and were led by Rachel Zurek (15 kills), setter Madelynn Kreider (47 assists), and libero Julia Fledderjohn (28 digs).
The victory marks NMU's fourth straight win over Michigan Tech and sixth consecutive regular-season triumph in the rivalry. With the result, Northern improves to 7-3 in GLIAC play, pulling into a tie for third place and keeping the push for postseason home court alive.
