PREVIEW: Huskies host Pride in return to SDC Gym

THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHES
• Michigan Tech returns to the SDC Gym this weekend to host Purdue Northwest on Friday and Saturday.
• The Huskies and Pride will meet at 5 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.

WATCH THE MATCHES
• Visit MichiganTechHuskies.com to watch the 2021 spring home matches live and on-demand.
• Fans can watch the 2021 spring season for $50 or each match for $8.

ON THE AIR
• Mix 93.5 FM will broadest Saturday's match
• Fans can listen live on the radio at Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ, online at TheMix93.com or Pasty.com, or by using your favorite radio streaming app.

LAST TIME OUT
• Tech splits its first road weekend of the season at Northwood.
• The Timberwolves edged the Huskies 3-2 Saturday after winning the final three sets.
• The Black and Gold bounced back with a 3-1 victory on Sunday after commanding wins in sets two and four.

STATISTICAL RANKINGS
• Laura De Marchi leads the GLIAC in assists per set (12.07)
• Anna Jonynas is second in the GLIAC in kills per set (4.27)
• Janie Grindland is second in the GLIAC in hitting percentage (.424)
• Megan Utlak is second in the GLIAC in digs (79)

PRESEASON GLIAC POLL
• In the 2021 Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Huskies led the North Division with 60 points. Ferris State was eight points back while also taking a pair of first-place votes. Northern Michigan (38), Saginaw Valley State (34), Northwood (20), and Lake Superior State (12) rounded out the North.
• Ashland was the top choice in the South Division with 56 points and eight first-place votes. Grand Valley State was six points back. Wayne State (43) was third followed by Davenport (34), Parkside (21), and Purdue Northwest (12).

SCOUTING THE PRIDE
• Purdue Northwest is 0-4 this season.
• The Pride has lost to Wayne State and Davenport.
• PNW was picked sixth in the South Division in the GLIAC Coaches' Poll.
• Bill Schepel is in his first season as head coach.
• Kensie Duggan leads a balanced offensive attack with 2.0 kills per set.
• Holly Faley (6 assists per set) and Abigail Negril (4.43 a/s) set the attack.

LAST MEETINGS
• Tech swept PNW 3-0 in 2019 down in Indiana.
• The Huskies have swept the Pride in the three meetings all-time.

MILESTONES MARKS
• Olivia Ghormley – 1,325 kills (4th in program history)
• Laura De Marchi – 3,769 assists (3rd in program history)
• Megan Utlak – 1,375 digs (5th in program history)
• Anna Jonynas – 1,170 digs (8th in program history)

COACH JENNINGS
• Head coach Matt Jennings is in his ninth season and has won 138 matches overall.
• Under Jennings, the Huskies have gone from last place in the conference to nationally ranked and consistently in the NCAA Tournament.
• Jennings has coached the Huskies to three straight NCAA tournament appearances and the program's first NCAA win since 1995.
• He was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2017 and led the team to a program-record of 10 straight wins to start the 2016 season.

IN THE AVCA POLL
• Tech is receiving votes in this week's AVCA Division II Coaches' Poll.
• The Huskies were ranked No. 23 last week and were the first team outside of the top 25 in the preseason poll.
• Tech was ranked in the Top 25 in eight polls in 2019 and climbed as high as No. 20 on November 5.

LAST SEASON
The Huskies finished last season with a 24-8 overall record, winning the most matches since 1996. They went to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season and advanced with the first NCAA win since 1995.

RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
• Laura De Marchi and Olivia Ghormley were named American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division II Honorable Mention All-Americans in 2019. Both were honored by the organization for the second year in a row. Ghormley also added All-America Honorable Mention honors from the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA).
• De Marchi led the GLIAC in assists per set at 11.59 to rank seventh in the nation and sixth in program history. She also tallied 260 digs, 81 kills, 40 blocks, and 20 service aces.
• Ghormley finished third in the GLIAC in kills per set (4.03) and points per set (4.4). She tallied double-digit kills 25 times in 2019, including seven matches with 20 kills.

ALL-GLIAC RETURNEES
• Laura De Marchi – 3-time GLIAC Setter of the Year, 3-time All-GLIAC First Team
• Olivia Ghormley – 2-time GLIAC Attacker of the Year, 2-time All-GLIAC First Team
• Megan Utlak – 2-time All-GLIAC Honorable Mention

REST OF THE SCHEDULE
• Mar. 12-13 vs. Ferris State
• Mar. 19-20 vs. Saginaw Valley State
• Mar. 26-27 at Grand Valley State
• Apr. 2 vs. Northern Michigan
• Apr. 3 at Northern Michigan