Volleyball sweeps NMU Saturday to wrap up road trip

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The No. 21-ranked Michigan Tech volleyball team won its eighth in a row and picked up its fourth straight sweep with a victory at Northern Michigan Saturday (Nov. 2). The Huskies won 27-25, 25-20, and 25-21 at Vandament Arena to improve to 19-4 overall and 11-1 in the GLIAC.

"It wasn't our best performance but it was good enough to win in three," Tech coach Matt Jennings said. "At this point in the season, finding a way to get it done is what it's all about, especially on the road."

The two teams battled to 12 ties in the first set with neither team taking more than a three-point lead. Tied at 24, Anna Jonynas had a kill for set point and then MacAulay Petersen and Rachel Ping teamed up for the set-clinching block. Ping racked up five kills in the opening set and Laura De Marchi dug up seven balls.

The second set was similar before a 5-0 run by the Huskies put them up 21-16. Olivia Ghormley had a pair of kills in the run while also teaming up with Emilia Widen for a block. Ghormley added two more kills to put the Huskies up 2-0.

The Huskies used a 10-2 run in the third to lead 20-12. Four different Huskies had kills and NMU added three attack errors. Northern battled back to cut the margin to 24-21 but Petersen was able to finish it for the Huskies and sweep the Wildcats for the second time this season.

"Mac really carried us at major points today," added Jennings. "She was swinging well and came through with some very clutch blocking at key moments. Megan buckled down and played strong in the backcourt as we got through the first set. Emilia and Rachel gave us quality senior presence all match, which was important."

Petersen and Ghormley led the Huskies with 11 kills. Ping added seven and Anna Jonynas five. De Marchi had a double-double with 34 assists and 17 digs. Megan Utlak also hit double figures with 15 digs.

As a team, the Huskies hit .220 and forced the Wildcats in 23 attacking errors.

The Huskies have now won six straight matches over their rivals for the longest win streak in series history. Tech also swept the Wildcats twice in the regular season for the second year in a row.

After a six-match road trip, where the Huskies won all six, Tech returns home for the final time in the regular season next weekend, hosting No. 20 Ferris State Friday and Northwood Saturday for Senior Day.