NIU volleyball (3-19, 1-11 MAC) lost to the University at Buffalo Bulls (13-13, 9-4 MAC) in three sets. This is the fifth consecutive defeat by sweep for the Huskies.
The Bulls came out with an aggressive and fast start, overwhelming the Huskies and taking the first set 25-9.
NIU showed resilience in the second and third sets, reaching at least 20 points in each.
When asked about the surge in performance, freshman outside hitter Ava Grevengoed credited a mentality shift.
“I would say in the second and third set we came out with a fresh mindset,” Grevengoed said. “Our goal was to build each other up and build momentum. We also started to be adaptable to what they were giving us.”
Grevengoed delivered a standout effort, contributing 7 kills and 5 digs.
Senior outside hitter Nikolette Nedic was another effective player for NIU, posting a hit rate of .364 with 7 kills.
Despite the sweep, NIU volleyball head coach Sondra D’Amore noted improvement in the final two frames.
“Serve and pass was a huge reason why the first set went the way it did, and we immediately cleaned that up in (sets) 2 and 3, which helped keep us in the game,” D’Amore said.
Despite the improved play, NIU suffered from ineffective offense. The Huskies’ overall hitting percentage of .172 was outmatched by Buffalo’s .291.
Service errors were a significant factor in the closing frame, with NIU committing 4 compared to Buffalo’s 1 in a 29-27 third set.
The Huskies will return to action at 3 p.m. CST Saturday for a rematch against the Bulls. Live streaming will be available on ESPN+ and live stats will be found on SIDEARM Stats.
