KENOSHA, Wis. — The Parkside volleyball team returns to the road for a pair of GLIAC matchups, beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29, when the Rangers travel to Hammond, Indiana, to take on Purdue Northwest at 6 p.m. CT. Parkside will then continue its road trip Friday, Oct. 2, traveling to Marquette, Michigan, to face Northern Michigan at 4 p.m. CT. 

The Rangers enter the week after splitting a pair of conference matches last weekend, sweeping Lake Superior State before falling to Saginaw Valley State in five sets. Parkside has put together a strong offensive and defensive season through the opening stretch of the 2026 campaign. The Rangers are hitting .224 as a team, ranking fifth in the GLIAC, while their balanced attack has produced 704 kills and 647 assists, both of which rank third in the conference. Defensively, Parkside has totaled 871 digs and averages 16.43 digs per set, ranking second in the GLIAC in both categories. The Rangers have also held opponents to a .164 hitting percentage on the season. 

Natalie Harris continues to lead the GLIAC in both total digs and digs per set, recording 296 digs while averaging 5.58 digs per set. Her defensive production also ranks among the nation's best, as she sits eighth in NCAA Division II in digs per set and 15th in total digs. Maia Olson has also been a key presence defensively at the net, totaling 44 blocks on the season to rank fourth in the GLIAC. Olson averages 0.83 blocks per set, which ranks sixth in the conference, while also providing an offensive threat with a .293 hitting percentage on the season.

Avary Polavin paces the Rangers offensively, recording 188 kills on the season to rank second in the GLIAC while averaging 3.62 kills per set, which ranks third in the conference. Monica Lukasiewicz leads Parkside with a .346 hitting percentage, adding 86 kills and 28 total blocks on the season. Lucy Russ has directed the Rangers' offense with a team-high 348 assists, while Emily Zaper has provided a spark from the service line, leading Parkside with 20 aces.
 
Scouting Purdue Northwest:
Purdue Northwest enters Tuesday's matchup with a 2-11 record on the season and is hitting .158 as a team. The Lions have found success at the net, ranking fifth in the GLIAC with 1.80 blocks per set. Anika Huelskamp leads Purdue Northwest offensively with 95 kills, while Addison Smith has guided the Lions' offense with 214 assists, averaging 4.86 assists per set. Kennedy Rowzee has been a key defensive presence at the net, recording 44 blocks on the season to rank fourth in the GLIAC. Her 1.00 blocks per set rank second in the conference.

Parkside and Purdue Northwest met earlier this season, with the Rangers earning a 3-0 sweep. Tuesday's matchup marks the 20th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Parkside holding an 18-1 advantage in the series.

Scouting Northern Michigan:
Northern Michigan enters the matchup with a 6-8 record on the season and is hitting .185 as a team. The Wildcats rank fourth in the GLIAC in both total digs with 858 and digs per set at 15.89. Northern Michigan has also recorded 679 kills and 640 assists, ranking fifth in the conference in both categories. Kaylie McIntosh leads the Wildcats with 182 kills and averages 3.57 kills per set, ranking fourth in the GLIAC. She also averages 3.96 points per set. Liesl Haugen has anchored Northern Michigan defensively with 217 digs on the season and 4.25 digs per set, ranking fourth and fifth in the GLIAC, respectively. Allie Barlow has directed the Wildcats' offense with 556 assists, ranking second in the conference, while her 10.30 assists per set also rank second. Barlow has added 19 service aces on the season.
 
Parkside faced Northern Michigan in the first round of the GLIAC Tournament last season, earning a 3-1 victory over the Wildcats. Historically, the Rangers hold an 8-14 record against Northern Michigan.
 
For all things Parkside Volleyball, including links to live coverage, visit ParksideRangers.com/coverage.