Marquette, MI – August 24th, 2026 – Northern Michigan volleyball is set to open its 2026 season at home this weekend as the Wildcats host the UP North Volleyball Tournament Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 27-29, at Vandament Arena. The three-day tournament will feature seven teams, with Northern Michigan welcoming Cal State East Bay, Michigan Tech, Minnesota Duluth, St. Cloud State, Tiffin, and Winona State.
The Wildcats enter the season looking to build on a 15-14 campaign in 2025, including a 12-4 record in GLIAC play. Northern Michigan was especially strong at home last season, posting an 8-2 record at Vandament Arena. NMU finished the regular season on a four-match winning streak before falling in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament to end the season.
Northern Michigan will enter the 2026 season with a change to its coaching staff, as head coach Mike Lozier announced the promotion of Kamryn Duffield to associate head coach. Duffield joined the Wildcats’ staff ahead of the 2023 season and has played an important role in the program’s recent success. During her three seasons on staff, Northern Michigan has posted winning records in each of the past two seasons and has gone 25-8 in conference play, earning home-court advantage for the GLIAC quarterfinals. A former setter, Duffield has worked closely with the Wildcats’ setters while helping develop the team’s offense. During her tenure, she has helped coach 11 All-GLIAC selections, including back-to-back seasons in which an NMU setter earned All-GLIAC Second Team honors. She also helped coach Jacqueline Smith to All-America honorable mention recognition in 2024.
Duffield came to Northern Michigan following a standout playing career at Wayne State, where she was a five-year setter and four-year team captain from 2018-22. She earned All-GLIAC honors five times, including First Team recognition in 2021. She finished her Wayne State career with 4,814 assists, the most in program history during the modern era, and ranks second all-time in assists per set at 10.22. Duffield also holds the program’s single-match record with 71 assists and finished her career ranked sixth in service aces (112) and eighth in digs (1,037).
The Wildcats will open tournament play on Thursday against Winona State at 2:30 p.m. They will return to the court later that evening at 6:30 p.m. against St. Cloud State before facing Minnesota Duluth at 7 p.m. Friday. Northern Michigan will wrap up tournament play Saturday against Tiffin at 4:30 p.m.
Fans looking to attend the UP North Volleyball Tournament can purchase single-day passes, all-tournament passes or individual game tickets.
Tickets for the UP North Volleyball Tournament can be purchased here.
UP North Volleyball Tournament Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 27
- St. Cloud State vs. Cal State East Bay — 12 p.m.
- Northern Michigan vs. Winona State — 2:30 p.m.
- Northern Michigan vs. St. Cloud State — 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 28
- St. Cloud State vs. Tiffin — 9 a.m.
- Minnesota Duluth vs. Cal State East Bay — 11:30 a.m.
- St. Cloud State vs. Michigan Tech — 2 p.m.
- Winona State vs. Tiffin — 4:30 p.m.
- Northern Michigan vs. Minnesota Duluth — 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29
- Cal State East Bay vs. Michigan Tech — 9 a.m.
- Tiffin vs. Minnesota Duluth — 11:30 a.m.
- Michigan Tech vs. Winona State — 2 p.m.
- Northern Michigan vs. Tiffin — 4:30 p.m.
