MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Davenport University women's volleyball team saw its eight-match winning streak come to an end Friday evening, falling 3-1 to Northern Michigan inside Vandament Arena. It marked the Panthers' first loss since their season opener on Aug. 28.
Davenport claimed the opening set 25-22 before the Wildcats responded by winning the next three sets, 25-18, 28-26 and 28-26.
The Panthers broke a 21-21 tie in the opening set behind the serving of
Abby Alan. The senior delivered an ace to put Davenport ahead before an NMU setting error and Alan's second ace of the run brought the Panthers to set point.
Savanah Weathers then finished the 25-22 victory with a kill off an assist from Kierra Dommer.
Earlier in the set, Davenport overcame a 13-10 deficit and pulled even behind a
Jaide Wirth kill and a Wildcats attack error. The Panthers tied the score again at 20-20 on a block from Wirth and
Mariya Montgomery before closing the set on a 5-2 run.
Northern Michigan took control of the second set by building a 13-7 advantage. Consecutive kills from Alan and Weathers helped Davenport pull within three at 14-11, while a late four-point run trimmed the deficit to 21-17. The stretch featured kills from Alan and
Amelia Werner and a block by
Livi Overbeek, but the Wildcats answered by scoring four of the final five points to even the match with a 25-18 win.
Davenport used a 6-0 run to erase an early 5-2 deficit in the third set, with
Julia Frederick serving four aces during the stretch. Alan and Werner also combined for a block to give the Panthers an 8-5 advantage.
A kill from
Karley Pretzer and an NMU attack error later extended Davenport's lead to 15-11. The Panthers remained in front 22-18 following a block by Werner and Pretzer, but the Wildcats scored four consecutive points to tie the set. Werner twice put Davenport one point away from taking the set, while Alan's kill tied the score at 26-26. NMU, however, claimed the final two rallies to win 28-26 and move ahead 2-1 in the match.
The Panthers appeared poised to force a decisive fifth set after turning a 14-11 deficit into a 24-17 advantage in the fourth. Behind
Hayley Carr's serve, Davenport rattled off six consecutive points with the help of an Alan kill, a Carr ace and multiple NMU errors. Werner, Weathers and Pretzer added kills as the Panthers pushed their lead to seven.
Northern Michigan responded by scoring seven straight points to tie the set at 24-24. Pretzer twice put Davenport back in front with kills at 25-24 and 26-25, but the Wildcats captured the final three points to complete the comeback, 28-26, and secure the match.
Alan led the Panthers with 18 kills and 20.5 points while hitting .350. She also recorded six digs and two service aces. Carr finished with a team-high 16 digs to go with six assists and an ace, while Frederick served a match-high four aces. Werner paced Davenport at the net with five blocks and added seven kills for 10.5 points.
Davenport will look to earn a split of its Upper Peninsula road trip when it takes on Michigan Tech tomorrow (Sept. 19) at 4 p.m. in Houghton, Mich.
