DeKALB — Winning the first two matches of the NIU Invitational with a 3-0 sweep of Merrimack College (1-2) and 3-2, five-match win over the Indiana State University Sycamores (1-4), NIU women’s volleyball improved to 4-1 on the season.
Gaining their fourth win, the Huskies tied their win total from last season. In 2024, NIU finished with an overall record of 4-24 and 2-16 in the Mid-American Conference.
GAME 1: MERRIMACK
The Huskies made quick work of the Warriors, taking the match in just three sets, 25-17, 25-16, 25-22. Sophomore outside hitters Ava Grevengoed and Emma McCartney tied for a game-leading 14 kills, with Grevengoed also adding 11 digs.
Sophomore transfer Jordyn Tynsky recorded 2 aces while leading all Huskies with 16 digs.
“It’s just infectious energy,” said NIU women’s volleyball head coach Sondra D’Amore when asked what Tynsky brings to the team. “I think a lot of people trust her. You know what you’re going to get there, she’s always going to go all out. She keeps us in a lot of plays and is just a steady presence on defense.”
GAME 2: INDIANA STATE
The Indiana State Sycamores made the Huskies work for the win in a five-match, back-and-forth battle resulting in a 3-2 win for NIU. Taking the match to five sets, the Huskies ultimately took the fifth set 15-11.
“We’ve had a couple five-set battles now, “ D’Amore said. “After a tough four sets to be able to bounce back and compete, especially being down in the fifth. This team has grit and it’s fun to see. And hopefully they have confidence now that they’ve done it a few times.”
The first set looked promising for the Huskies, who clinched a 25-15 set thanks to a kill from junior middle back Autumn Flynn.
“Honestly, just my connection with Ella (Strausberger) and Kylie (Schulze),” said Flynn. “We’ve worked a lot on that over the season and today it just kind of clicked. I give a lot to my setters for that.”
The second set was back-and-forth between the Sycamores and the Huskies, ultimately ending with a loss for NIU.
Beginning with an early Huskies lead and ending with a 23-18 set victory, the third seemingly allowed NIU to regain their rhythm.
Going down 8-1 to start the next set, NIU couldn’t come back. Resulting in a 25-14 set loss , the fourth frame was the Huskies’ lowest scoring set of the season thus far.
The fifth set ended twice, once when a ball was called out on ISU for a 15-10 win for the Huskies, which was overturned after the Sycamores challenged the call, and again when the Huskies won a 15-11 match on a long out ball from Indiana State.
Flynn and senior rightside hitter Alexa Hayes each recorded 13 kills, while sophomore middle blocker Rylea Alvin led the team with 8 blocks.
“They believe in me and they talk,” Alvin said of her team. “It always helps when your teammates are talking to you, and they just believe in me and it means a lot. They’re always there and they’re always hyping me up when I’m not doing well, and there’s always someone to pick you up.”
UP NEXT
The Huskies look to sweep the tournament at 6 p.m. Saturday in the NIU Convocation Center against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ and the live stats will be updated on SIDEARM Sports.
“Just our grit,” said Alvin on what the team is looking to bring into future matches. “We work so hard and that’s something we never let up, ever. I don’t care if we’re down 10, we never let up. And that’s what’s new with this team and that’s what we love. Everyone else believes in us. Coaches, everyone, so that’s always nice. So just continuing that.”
