Michigan Tech right side hitter Madelyn Torola extends her arms to attempt a block during a match against Wayne State on Friday, Oct. 24, at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Ask first-year head coach Cindy Pindral, and she would agree, the Michigan Tech Huskies volleyball team is happy to finally be home for back-to-back weekends, even if it is to close out the regular season.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunity to be had,” she said. “There’s only two weeks left, which does not seem like a lot, but there’s so much that can happen across the league. As we saw with some crazy results this past weekend with Grand Valley (State) and Ferris (State), and (Wisconsin-)Parkside just having the weekend of their lives. You never know with this league.

“So we’re going to focus on the things that we can control, like our energy, our attitude, sticking to our strategies, the team maintenance.”

The Huskies are 9-13 overall and 6-6 in GLIAC play with four matches left. They sit tied for seventh with Purdue Northwest and are just one game behind both Wisconsin-Parkside and Davenport and two games behind Northern Michigan, so the standings after the top three seeds are still wide open.

Last week, the Huskies played three matches, a five-set loss to Northern Michigan, a three-set loss to Wisconsin-Parkside, and a sweep of Roosevelt.

“It was a very tough week,” Pindral said. “Every week in the GLIAC is tough. We have a very difficult conference, and there’s a lot of parity. So, I feel like, at this point in the season, you’re kind of living a week, or a lifetime, in every day. Everything is hyper-focused, and there’s just a lot going on. So, to be honest with you, it’s, what, Tuesday? And it feels like the Northern match was like, three weeks ago, because just so much happens at this point of season. The result happens, and then you quickly turn your attention to the next opponent.

“The Northern match was an epic one for sure. We had moments where it was just, you could feel the tension in the gym and you could. It was just such an epic match. There’s not really words that can properly describe it. Obviously, we wanted to win that one. We had three opportunities to do so. But Northern is a very good team, and they’ve really gotten better this season. We’re still kind of figuring ourselves out at times.”

As much of a battle as the Northern Michigan match was, Pindral was disappointed her team could not use it as a springboard in their match against Wisconsin-Parkside, where they held an early nine-point lead in the first set, but could not slow the Rangers once they found their game.

“The Parkside match on Friday was particularly tough,” she said. “We started out hot, and then Parkside kind of found their stride. We were up by nine for quite a while, and we weren’t able to capitalize.

“So, one of the biggest themes this week was really how do we push through those moments where we have the advantage and where we’re up on top? Why are sometimes we afraid to just close it out, or why are we unable to finish? We’ve been constructing a lot of drills in practice where you’re forced to finish. So, it comes down to a lot of mental toughness and resiliency that we’re working on.”

One potential secret weapon might be the group Pindral is now referring to as the “Bench Mob.”

“Our bench has really come alive, personality-wise, in the last couple of weeks,” she said. “It’s easy to focus on just the people on the court, but there’s so much culture, and so much support, that’s happening from the bench players.”

Two players who continue to grow by leaps and bounds are a pair of U.P.-native freshmen, Madelyn Torola and Madelynn Kreider. Torola, from Calumet, is now fourth on the team in kills with 145. Kreider, from Kingsford, leads the team with 438 assists and she has 14 aces.

“The stats are one thing, but the thing that I really appreciate about Maddie Torola is that she shows up every day with the same mentality,” said Pindral. “The match that she had 18 kills, the two matches that she had 18 kills, and the matches where she has like three or four kills, there’s really no difference in her personality or how she’s approaching it.

“Maddie Kreider, she always comes every day, ready, willing to work. Coaches can’t teach hustle. It’s just something, either you have it, or you don’t. Even when she’s not having a great touch day, or something like that, maybe the sets are just not quite what she wants, she’s still going 100% for the ball, and she’s still putting forth the effort that she has for that day. So, there’s never a question of energy, intention, hustle, or any of that coming out of her, which is great, and a lot of our players are that way.”

Scouting the Panthers

The Davenport Panthers come into this weekend 11-12 on the season and 7-5 in GLIAC play after a weekend that saw them fall to both Grand Valley State and Wayne State. They beat the Huskies 3-0 back on Saturday, Sept. 20.

They are led offensively by junior right side hitter Abby Alan with 247 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Karley Pretzer has also been really strong with 178 kills.

Scouting the Bulldogs

The Ferris State Bulldogs come into this weekend 19-5 overall and 10-2 in GLIAC play after a weekend that saw them sweep Wayne State before falling in five sets to Grand Valley State. They beat the Huskies 3-1 back on Friday, Sept. 19.

They are led offensively by sophomore outside hitter Gabby Piazza, who has 310 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Emily May has also been really strong, with 265 kills.

Match times

The Huskies and Panthers will square on Friday at 5 p.m. at the SDC Gym in Houghton. Saturday, the Huskies and Bulldogs have an opening serve set for 2 p.m.