NIU volleyball (3-22, 1-14 MAC) fell to the Bowling Green State University Falcons (18-8, 13-2 MAC) in 3 sets Friday. This is the 12th time the Huskies have been swept this season.
BETTER, BUT NOT ENOUGH
The first set was a back and forth, featuring 13 tie scores and 8 lead changes. NIU went down by 4 (23-19) late in the frame but stormed back with a 5-0 run to go up 24-23. Bowling Green scored, bringing the frame to a deuce and with their regained momentum, the Falcons scored three-straight to close out the set 26-24.
NIU was productive at the service line with 3 aces but were still outhit in the frame with 14 kills and 9 errors to Bowling Green’s 15 kills and 5 errors. NIU also got stifled by the Falcons front line in this set, succumbing to 4 total blocks.
The second set saw the Huskies go up 5-1 early. The Falcons responded with a 9-2 run to go up 10-7 and held on to the lead for the rest of the frame en route to winning 25-21. The Huskies hit at a rate of .231 but still fell short of the Falcons rate of .275. NIU was outdone at the service line with 1 ace to Bowling Green’s 2.
In the third set, NIU went up multiple times but failed to capitalize on the momentum. The Huskies’ biggest lead was 6, which they led by multiple times (15-9, 20-14).
Bowling Green consistently answered back and gained momentum. The set went to a deuce and the Falcons closed the frame out on a 12-4 run to win 26-24, securing the game.
When asked about the momentum shifts in the third set, NIU volleyball head coach Sondra D’Amore emphasized staying consistent in effort on every point rather than focusing on the score.
“You got to play every point the same way,” D’Amore said. “It’s natural to focus on outcome, especially when you have such a big lead. I don’t think it’s an intentional thing at all, but we gotta stay focused and play every single point the same way and not be so focused on the score.”
STANDOUT HUSKIES
Senior middle blocker Charli Atiemo reached a career milestone in the second set, slamming the 1000th kill of her NIU career. Atimeo is the 23rd Huskie to reach the mark and the first since Meg Wolowicz in 2018.
Atiemo expressed pride at her accomplishment and thankfulness for her team and coaches.
“I’m very proud of myself,” Atiemo said. “Not a lot of people can say they are finishing where they started. I mean the transfer portal is huge nowadays so I’m very blessed to have a supporting team around me, passers, setters to get me the ball and a coaching staff that believes in me to put that away.”
Freshman outside hitter Ava Grevengoed was a standout. She was second for the Huskies in kills with 9 and second in digs with 15. Grevengoed leads NIU in kills on the season with 261 and is second in kills with 272.
Junior outside hitter Nazli Güvener also stood out, leading NIU in kills with 10 and was fourth in digs with 6. Güvener is third on the Huskies in kills on the season with 238.
UP NEXT
NIU volleyball continues its season at 4 p.m Saturday at Victor E. Court in Dekalb, running it back against Bowling Green during the Huskies’ senior night. Live streaming will be available on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on SIDEARM Sports.
