GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Coming off back-to-back sweeps, the Davenport University women's volleyball team will look to carry its momentum into a pair of key GLIAC matchups at the DU Student Center. The Panthers host Northern Michigan on Friday, Oct. 9, before welcoming the nation's top-ranked team, Ferris State, on Saturday, Oct. 10.

Davenport enters the weekend third in the GLIAC standings behind No. 1 Ferris State and No. 17 Grand Valley State, holding an 11-4 overall record and a 5-3 mark in conference play. The Panthers remain undefeated on their home court at 7-0, with five home matches scheduled over the next four weekends.

This weekend marks Davenport's final conference action before the Midwest Region Crossover in Hammond, Ind., on Oct. 16-17, where the Panthers will face regional opponents during the two-day event.

True freshman Savanah Weathers highlighted last weekend's victories, setting a career high with 17 kills while adding 17 digs, three service aces and a .484 hitting percentage in the SVSU matchup. She finished the weekend with 24 kills, 23 digs, six blocks and four aces, contributing on both sides of the net.

Abby Alan added 20 kills and hit .360 across the two matches, including a 14-kill performance on a .500 hitting percentage versus Roosevelt. The senior enters this weekend ranked seventh in the GLIAC in both total kills (169) and kills per set (3.25), while sitting second in service aces (24) and aces per set (0.46). Karley Pretzer provided another consistent offensive option, totaling 16 kills while hitting .371 for the weekend, highlighted by 10 kills and a .391 hitting percentage in the sweep over the Cardinals.

At the net, Amelia Werner contributed 11 kills and eight blocks, recording eight kills on nine attempts without an error for a .889 hitting percentage in the sweep over the Lakers. Mariya Montgomery remains among the conference's leading blockers, ranking fourth in the GLIAC with 51 total blocks and averaging 0.93 per set.

Keira Dommer directed the offense with 44 assists and added 12 digs over the weekend, while Hayley Carr collected 22 digs and three service aces. Carr enters the upcoming matchups ranked fifth in the conference with 237 digs, averaging 4.31 per set.

Scouting the Opponents
Northern Michigan
About the Wildcats

• Northern Michigan enters the weekend with an 8-8 overall record and a 5-3 mark in GLIAC play, sitting fifth in the conference standings. The Wildcats share Davenport's conference record and hold a 13-5 advantage in the all-time series.
• The teams last met on Sept. 18 in Marquette, where Davenport took the opening set before falling in four, 25-22, 18-25, 26-28, 26-28.
• Kaylie McIntosh leads the Wildcats' offense with 206 kills and 227.5 points, ranking fourth in the GLIAC in both total kills and kills per set (3.55).
• Northern Michigan also features two reigning GLIAC Players of the Week in Liesl Haugen and Allie Barlow. Haugen earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a season-high 29 digs in a win over Parkside and adding 19 in a sweep of Lake Superior State. She ranks third in the conference in both total digs (263) and digs per set (4.53).
• Barlow received Setter of the Week recognition following a performance that included 44 assists, 11 digs, five kills, two aces and two blocks. She ranks second in the GLIAC in both total assists (628) and assists per set (10.30).

#1 Ferris State
About the Bulldogs

• Ferris State enters the weekend ranked No. 1 nationally with a perfect 16-0 overall record and an 8-0 mark in GLIAC play. Tia Brandel-Wilhelm is in her 31st season as head coach, coming off a national runner-up finish that ended with a five-set loss to Tampa in last season's championship match.
• The Bulldogs hold a 15-1 advantage in the all-time series against Davenport. The Panthers' lone victory came on Sept. 23, 2022, when they defeated Ferris State in a five-set thriller.
• Gabby Piazza leads the Bulldogs with 207 kills and a GLIAC-best 4.31 kills per set, while hitting .314. Lyndsey Urick leads the conference in hitting percentage (.427), contributing 119 kills and a team-high 41 blocks.
• Hayley Wegener directs the offense with a conference-leading 10.86 assists per set, totaling 543 assists and 136 digs. Emily May and Lilly Peterson provide additional offensive options, hitting .383 and .384, respectively.
• Hope Davies leads the back row with 216 digs, averaging 4.32 per set, while Corrie Wisser leads the GLIAC in aces per set (0.46). As a team, Ferris State is hitting .337 while limiting opponents to a .138 hitting percentage.

Live Coverage
Oct. 9 (6 PM) vs. Northern Michigan // Live Video // Live Stats 
Oct. 10 (5 PM) vs. #1 Ferris State // Live Video // Live Stats