NIU volleyball (3-17, 1-9 MAC) fell to the Ball State University Cardinals (13-8, 6-4 MAC) in three sets. It is the third sweep in a row for the Huskies.
NIU got off to a strong start in the first frame. They held the lead for much of the set and led by as much as 5 (13-8). But the Cardinals came back, outhitting the Huskies with a .167 rate to NIU’s .029 and would close it out 25-20.
The second frame saw the Huskies fall early (8-2) and never recover, losing the frame 25-13. The Huskies were again outhit, posting a rate of .025 to the Cardinals .429. NIU also posted 6 more attack errors than Ball State in this frame with 7 to the Cardinals 1.
The third set saw NIU attack more efficiently with a .267 attack rate but the Huskies still fell short of Ball State’s mark of .424. The Cardinals sealed the sweep with a 25-19 score in the final set.
NIU volleyball head coach Sondra D’Amore credited Ball State as a strong team and cited the Huskies’ need for work in the practice gym to compete.
“They’re just big, they’re high, they’re fast and they have quite a bit of arms that know how to put the ball away,” D’Amore said. “It’s something that we need to continue to get better as a team and find a way in our practice gym to compete against arms and size like that.”
TOP HUSKIES
Senior libero Crew Hoffmeier shined in this game. She led with 13 digs and also contributed at the line with 1 service ace. Hoffmeier currently leads the MAC in digs per set with 4.91.
Talking about her ability to be in the right place to pop balls up, Crew credited her coaches and teammates.
“The coaches have really changed the way I see the ball,” Hoffmeier said. “I also have a great back row with me, so I feel confident to touch as many balls as I can, knowing they’re right behind me to track down a ball if I need them too.”
Freshman setter Ella Strausberger led with 20 assists and was also tied for third on the team in digs with 4. Strausberger currently leads the Huskies in assists on the season with 474.
TOP CARDINALS
Junior opposite Madison Buckley led the team in kills with 12 and attacked at an efficiency of .550. Buckley is 3rd on the Cardinals in kills with 168.
Freshman outside hitter Carson Tyler was second on the team in kills with 10 and also contributed on defense, popping up 7 digs. This is Tyler’s third game in a row recording 10+ kills.
Graduate student middle hitter Aayinde Smith led the team defensively posting 5 total blocks. Smith currently leads the Cardinals in total blocks on the season with 88.
UP NEXT
The Huskies continue their season at 4 p.m. Saturday at Victor E. Court as they run it back against the Cardinals. Live streaming will be provided on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on SIDEARM Sports.
