Michigan Tech freshman Meg Raabe hits the ball against Northern Michigan on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, in Marquette, Mich. (Courtesy Photo/Michigan Tech)

MARQUETTE — The Michigan Tech volleyball team was swept 3-0 by rival Northern Michigan on Tuesday.

The Wildcats won by scores of 25-18, 27-25, and 25-14 at Vandament Arena.

“Credit to Coach Lozier and the Wildcats on their great start to the season. They were the better team tonight,” Tech coach Matt Jennings said. “We’re going to continue to work to get better in all areas of the game. We as a team take responsibility for where we fell short tonight. There’s a lot of season left to go, and we’re looking for some people to step up.”

NMU (11-2, 4-1 GLIAC) jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first. The Huskies found their footing and cut the margin to three. The Wildcats closed on a 4-0 run to take the lead. Three different Huskies had at least two kills in the frame with Jillian Kuizenga leading the way with three.

Tech built a seven-point lead early in the second. NMU slowly closed the margin and tied it at 22. Jillian Kuizenga had late kills, one to give Tech a 23-22 lead and then one to keep the set alive after an NMU set point. The home team got a kill by Jacqueline Smith for its third set point and an attacking error by the Huskies made it 2-0. Kuizenga notched five kills in the second and Lindy Oujiri added three.

Northern hopped out to a quick 10-point lead in the third and never looked back.

Kuizenga led the Huskies with 12 kills, hitting double figures for the eighth time this season. Lina Espejo-Ramirez was back in the lineup with 22 assists and nine digs. Carissa Beyer (10 digs) and Brooke Dzwik (9 digs) also stepped up defensively.

Tech is now 7-5 overall and 1-4 in the GLIAC.

The Huskies have lost four of their last five matches, including three sweeps.

Tech continues a five-match road stretch at Purdue Northwest Friday and Parkside Saturday.