NIU volleyball (4-24, 2-16 MAC) were dropped by the Miami University RedHawks (8-21, 2-16 MAC) in four sets Saturday. The Huskies end the season with their lowest win total in program history.
COLLAPSE
NIU started the match strong in the first set. The Huskies went down by as much as 4 (10-6) but rallied to keep the set close. NIU brought it to a 19-19 tie late and ended the frame on 6-4 run to win the set 25-23.
The Huskies had their most efficient frame of the night in the first and outhit the RedHawks with 19 kills on a .325 hit rate versus Miami’s marks of 14 kills and a .297 rate.
NIU started with momentum in the second set as the Huskies jumped out to a 7-3 lead. The RedHawks slowly chipped away and took the lead 12-11. Halfway through the set the score was tied 15-15.
From there, the RedHawks went on a 6-1 run to go up 21-16. NIU responded with a 5-0 run to tie it up 21-21. But the RedHawks shut the door on the Huskies with a 4-2 end of the set to win it 25-23.
The RedHawks stayed in a groove in the second set. NIU’s last lead came at a score of 5-4. The RedHawks took the lead back 6-5 and held it for the rest of the frame en route to closing the Huskies out 25-19.
NIU was inefficient on offense in this set, hitting at a rate of .031 and posting one more kill (10) than errors (9). In contrast, the RedHawks hit at a rate of .194 and posted 12 kills to 6 errors.
The Huskies never led in the fourth set and trailed by as much as 7 (12-19). NIU posted a sub .100 hit rate again in this set (.089) and posted 11 kills to 7 errors. Both marks were inferior to the RedHawks marks of 14 kills and 2 errors.
NIU struggled against Miami’s front line in the final set, succumbing to 3 total blocks. The RedHawks closed the Huskies out 25-19 to secure the set and the match.
Addressing the Huskies’ slip after the first set, NIU volleyball head coach Sondra D’Amore praised Miami’s ability to steadily build momentum and keep her team out of rhythm.
“They just did a great job building momentum through the entire match,” D’Amore said. “It made it hard to get back in rhythm.”
D’Amore also pointed out the RedHawks aggressiveness and ball movement as points of struggle for NIU.
“Miami’s attack was way more aggressive and they moved the ball around well today,” D’Amore said. “They did a good job of finding ways to end the rally when it really mattered.”
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
Freshman outside hitter Ava Grevengoed led with 19 kills on a hit rate of .298. She also posted a double-double with 14 digs and contributed at the service line with 2 aces. Grevengoed ends her freshman campaign leading the Huskies in both kills with 305 and service aces with 35 on the season.
Freshman setter Ella Strausberger led with 28 assists and popped up 2 digs. Strausberger ends the year leading the Huskies in assists with 603 on the season.
Senior libero Crew Hoffmeier led with 20 digs and chipped in at the line with 2 service aces. Hoffmeier ends her senior season placing fourth in the MAC in digs with 496 and second in digs per set averaging 4.77.
