ALLENDALE, MICH. – The GVSU women's volleyball team is back home for two contests this Homecoming Weekend, as they take on Northern Michigan Friday evening at 5:00, then turn around and play Michigan Tech at 2:00 Saturday afternoon.
 
NMU: Live Stats | Video
MTU: Live Stats | Video
 
The Lakers are 17-3 and sit in second place in the GLIAC standings at 9-2 after going 1-1 last weekend against LSSU and Ferris St. Sarah Wight put together a strong performance over the two games, tallying 28 kills, totaling 10 blocks, six digs, and three service aces. Her .409 hitting percentage ranks first in the league, and her 1.02 blocks per set ranks second. Jordyn Gates had her sixth triple-double of the season against the Bulldogs, tying her for first in all of Division II. GVSU ranks in the top five nationally in both hitting percentage (5^th, 0.283) and opponents hitting percentage (4^th, 0.107).
 
The Lakers opened up GLIAC play with these two teams, losing to Michigan Tech in three sets, before bouncing back to take down Northern Michigan in four sets. Gates had 13 kills and 16 assists against the Huskies, then added 17 kills, 21 assists, and 16 digs versus NMU, as she took home the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week following the weekend.
 
In Friday's game, GVSU will take on Northern Michigan, who enter at 8-14 overall and 5-6 in league play, placing them in sixth place in the conference. After a 2-10 start, the Wildcats have turned it around, going 6-4 in their past 10 games to climb up the GLIAC standings. A big reason for their resurgence has been the return of outside hitter Jacqueline Smith, who after missing time earlier this season has gotten back on the court and is producing again. Smith is fifth in the GLIAC with 3.56 kills per set and her 192 kills lead the Wildcats. The NMU offense is guided by setters Lauren Van Remortel and Allie Barlow, who have combined for over 700 assists this season. The Wildcats have lost two straight to the Lakers dating back to last season, and they are just 2-4 on the road this year.
 
The Lakers close out the weekend facing off against the 10-12 Huskies. MTU is tied for fourth in the GLIAC at 6-5, and they have won seven of their last ten contests. The Huskies have one the better attackers in all the conference in Lindy Oujiri, who has 291 kills, ranking fifth in the GLIAC, as well as the league's second-best kills per set with 3.59. The conference's top blocker in terms of blocks per set is MTU's Kaycee Meiners with 1.07, as her 88 total blocks this season also lead the league. Setter Tess Hayes is fourth in the league with 783 assists, dishing out 9.55 a set. The Huskies have taken the last two matches against the Lakers and they have won seven of the past 10 meetings.
 
How to Follow
Both games this weekend will have live stats and live video. For full coverage of the game, including live in-game updates, follow @GVSUVOLLEY on Twitter and visit gvsulakers.com.