DeKALB — After a disappointing road trip to Bowling Green, NIU volleyball looked to bounce back at home Friday night against Toledo University. The Huskies (10-7, 3-5 MAC) took the Rockets (15-5, 6-2 MAC) down in the first set, but that momentum didn’t carry over.
NIU played a continuous game of catch-up the rest of the match, unable to find openings to take control. A three-point service ace run ended the match, and the Huskies got blasted by the Rockets, falling 1-3 and dropping their third straight game.
“Toledo is known for their serving,” head volleyball coach Sondra D’Amore said. “It’s a tough serving team. I think we’ve seen that passing is an important part of our game, and when we’re there, we’re unstoppable. The lesson for us is we’ve got to mentally persevere, and that it’s not there all the time. It’s a tough skill to be there all the time, and right now when it’s not there, we’re having a hard time picking up the other aspects of our game. That’s a focus for tomorrow.”
LOSS OF CONTROL
NIU kept the lead through the entire first set, but never took the lead through the second or third. The Huskies found control during set four in a few places, but only led by 2 points or less before the Rockets ran away with it.
Redshirt junior setter Kylie Schulze tallied 16 assists and 2 kills for NIU, while also making 3 digs. She said the Rockets started to give the Huskies trouble once they changed their approach.
“The other team just found better ways to score on us,” Schulze said. “I think we were doing a really good job in the first set at shutting down their line of approach and taking away their best shots. Then they unfortunately started to make changes on their end that we just weren’t able to adapt to.”
Sophomore outside hitter Emma McCartney led the Huskie offense, nailing 16 kills and 1 service ace. She provided defensively with 7 digs and 2 block assists. Sophomore outside hitter Ava Grevengoed, freshman outside hitter Naomi Dowd and junior middle blocker Autumn Flynn each landed 5 kills. Flynn kept the defense in the game, putting up 3 block assists and 1 solo block.
Sophomore setter Ella Strausberger nearly matched Schulze, logging 14 assists and 1 kill. Strausberger also added 7 digs and 1 service ace.
FILLING IN THE GAPS
In an attempt to break Toledo’s momentum, 12 Huskies got involved in the match across the four sets.
“In those moments when it’s getting tough, if you have good relievers, which I think we do this year, they can come in and hopefully bring a spark,” D’Amore said. “Just (looking) for a different presence there. It’s a hard position to come in for sure when you’re struggling, but I’m confident that our whole bench can always provide that relief when we need it.”
Freshman Delaney Steers played as both an outside hitter and libero for the Huskies. She contributed 2 kills, 2 assists, 1 service ace and 8 digs in three sets. Steers said making the switch was needed to help out the defense.
“My role right now is just filling any gaps where (my team) needs me,” Steers said. “I think the gap was in a libero jersey tonight, so I just wanted to embrace my role as much as I could.”
Sophomore middle blocker Rylea Alvin put up 2 solo blocks and recorded 3 kills. Freshmen right side hitter Eva Finnessy and middle blocker Savannah Gogel both made appearances, but didn’t record any stats.
UP NEXT
The Huskies look to settle the score against the Rockets at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Convocation Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats provided on SIDEARM Sports.
