The Michigan Tech women’s volleyball team closed its regular season with a 3-0 sweep of Roosevelt on Saturday at the SDC, winning 25-17, 25-12, and 25-22. The victory gave the Huskies a strong finish to their regular season schedule after a 3-1 loss to Northern Michigan on Tuesday Nov. 3. Michigan Tech entered the weekend with a 13-13 overall record and an 8-7 record in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.
Tech controlled the opening two sets against Roosevelt, winning the first by eight points and the second by 13. The Huskies carried that momentum into the third set, where Roosevelt made the match closer. However, Michigan Tech secured the 25-22 victory to complete the sweep.
Saturday’s match was also Senior Day, with six Michigan Tech seniors recognized following the game. Amelia Albers, Brynn Erickson, Tricia Kennedy, Kate Loch, Jacqueline Yancy, and Rachel Zurek were honored for their contributions to the program.
Among the seniors recognized was outside hitter and middle blocker Rachel Zurek, who earned several individual honors throughout the season. Zurek was named to the UP North All-Tournament Team, the Midwest Region Crossover All-Tournament Team, and was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the UCCS Mountain Lion Classic.
Zurek consistently contributed offensively for the Huskies throughout the season. At the UP North tournament, she averaged 4.38 kills (points) per set while hitting .275. She recorded 23 kills against St. Cloud State and 17 in a sweep of Winona State. At the Midwest Region Crossover, she averaged 4.08 kills per set across three matches, including a career-high 28 kills against Indianapolis, which was ranked number 22 at the time. Her performance at the UCCS Mountain Lion Classic earned her tournament MVP honors after averaging 4.17 kills per set across four matches.
The Huskies entered the matchup having previously defeated Roosevelt in Chicago on Oct. 24. Michigan Tech won that meeting in straight sets, 25-19, 25-15, and 25-17. Reagan Lesley led the Huskies in that match with 14 kills, while Madelynn Kreider recorded 30 assists and Keeley Nellis contributed 14 digs .
The final match of the regular season gave Michigan Tech an opportunity to finish its home schedule with a victory in front of its supporters, while the regular season finale provided another opportunity for Michigan Tech to finish its conference schedule with a victory in front of its home crowd. With the regular season complete, the Huskies will turn their attention to postseason play and the GLIAC tournament.
The team will look to carry the momentum from Saturday’s sweep into the conference postseason. This week, the Huskies head off to the GLIAC tournament starting with the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Nov. 11, hoping to make it to the semifinals and finals later in the week.
