This story, photo are courtesy of NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO button to hear RRN's Austin Graham interview KC Fortune.
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan volleyball team took care of business in the GLIAC Quarterfinals, sweeping the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals 25-15, 25-20, and 25-19 to advance to the next round on Friday.
"Tonight was a huge win against an incredibly talented and experienced team," Lauren Van Remortel said. " Bigger stage than normal, especially for our younger ones, and we played one of our most dominant matches the entire season. The way we maintained composure and executed the game plan was something to be very proud of. Looking forward to another opportunity with this group!"
The Wildcats jumped out to a 6-0 lead to start the match and never trailed in the first set. In a much tighter second frame, NMU pulled away late to claim the set. Northern then used a dominant 7-0 run in the third to pull away and reach the finish line.
Northern hit .258 with 36 kills while holding SVSU to just 25 kills on a .091 attack percentage. KC Fortune led the 'Cats with 12 kills, the only player in the match to reach double figures. Laynie Russell followed with seven on just 10 attempts. Allie Barlow recorded 30 assists.
NMU also found a lot of success at the service line, putting down nine aces to four from the visitors. Sydney Bartels led the way with four, all coming consecutively in the 7-0 run in the third.
Northern came out firing in the opening set, jumping out to a 6-0 lead behind kills from Kaylie McIntosh and Laynie Russell, along with an Allie Barlow service ace. The Wildcats continued to build their advantage, extending the lead to 12-4 and 18-10.
SVSU found brief stretches of momentum with consecutive points, but NMU answered each time to keep the Cardinals at bay. The Wildcats closed the set in convincing fashion, scoring the final four points, including a pair of Bonnstetter kills, to take the opener 25-15. NMU served up four aces in the frame while holding SVSU below a .000 hitting percentage
The second set featured a much tighter battle, with the teams trading points early before SVSU claimed its first lead of the match at 8-7. The sides remained even through the middle portion of the set, reaching a 12-12 deadlock.
Northern eventually created some separation, earning its first three-point advantage of the frame at 17-14 to force an SVSU timeout. The Wildcats followed with another three-point run to stretch the margin to 22-17 before KC Fortune delivered the finishing blow with a kill, securing a 25-21 victory and a two-set advantage.
Fortune continued to provide a spark in the third, recording a pair of early kills as NMU opened with a 5-3 lead. The Wildcats then put together their biggest run of the night, rattling off seven consecutive points to take a commanding 16-9 lead. Sydney Bartels was at the center of the surge, delivering four straight service aces to electrify the crowd and put the Wildcats within reach of a sweep.
The Cardinals responded with four unanswered points to prompt an NMU timeout, but Anna O'Keefe halted the run with a kill down the line. Barlow added another service ace to push the Wildcats closer to the finish and force an SVSU timeout at 22-18.
Fortune followed with a kill to set up match point, and Russell put the match away with the final kill, giving Northern Michigan a 25-19 third-set win. The Wildcats hit .310 in the decisive frame to complete the sweep and advance.
The Wildcats advance to the GLIAC Semifinals, where they will play No. 2 Grand Valley State. The Lakers swept Wayne State in the Quarterfinals. The match will take place at No. 1 and host Ferris State on Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m. Grand Valley State swept the Wildcats in both meetings this season.
