HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Michigan Tech volleyball team finished with a .299 attack percentage in a thrilling 3-2 win over Upper Peninsula rival Northern Michigan in its final regular season home match Saturday (Oct. 31). With the victory, the Huskies clinched a berth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with a 13-12 overall record and a 9-5 league mark. NMU, who already earned a spot in the conference tournament, now has a record of 17-9 overall and 10-4 in the conference.

"Earning a spot in the GLIAC Tournament means everything in the world to us," said head coach Orlando Gonzalez. "It was one of our goals going into the year to make the tournament, but we are not satisfied with just making it."

Tech hit a remarkable .467 on its way to winning set one 25-14. The Huskies struggled offensively in set two which opened the door for a 25-19 win by the Wildcats. NMU won a narrow third set 25-23, but Tech rallied for a 25-19 win in the fourth set to force the match to a decisive fifth set. The Huskies dominated the fifth set. Tech opened the set with a six point run which was extended to as many as eight. Tech earned the match win thanks to a 15-7 fifth set win.

Tech was paced by a trio of players with 10 or more kills. Sophomore Kristine Sexton hit .485 on the night thanks to a team-high 17 kills but it was senior Veronica Armstrong who recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs. Senior Alicia Schneider finished with 10 kills and added five assists.

Freshman Madeline Haben picked up a double-double from the setter position compliments of 53 assists and 12 digs. Senior Kaari Nevanen turned in a solid day as well with a team-high 16 digs and accompanied by two service aces.

Mandi Meyer tallied a match-high 24 kills and 12 digs to lead the Wildcats.

As a team, Tech recorded 62 digs in the match compared to 55 by Northern. The Huskies rank first in the GLIAC in digs with 15.1. NMU finished with an edge in blocks, 10-4.

Michigan Tech will close out the regular season with matches at Ferris State (Nov. 6) and Grand Valley (Nov. 7).

Note: Tech honored five players during the match that were playing their final regular season home match of their careers: senior Veronica Armstrong, senior Alison Greene, senior Kaari Nevanen, junior Lyndsey Dixon and junior Amanda Vogt.