Great Lakes Wire

For the second consecutive week, Northern Michigan University junior libero Liesl Haugen has been named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week. Haugen, who is from Maple Grove, Minnesota, delivered a notable defensive performance for the Wildcats during recent matches.

In a five-set match against Michigan Tech on Thursday, Haugen recorded 38 digs. This was the highest number by any GLIAC player this season and ranks as the ninth-highest single-match total in NCAA Division II this year. Her performance also stands as the second-best in Northern Michigan program history, just one dig short of Meirong Lu's record of 39 set in 1999. In a subsequent match at Purdue Northwest, Haugen added 22 digs to her season tally. Across both matches, she contributed four receptions, three aces, and nine assists.

Since returning from injury on September 26, Haugen has played a key role in Northern Michigan's current six-match winning streak. She is currently ranked second in the GLIAC for digs per set in conference play with an average of 5.0. According to the team, "Her relentless effort on Northern's back line continues to set the tone for the team, and for the second week in a row, she was honored for those efforts."