DeKALB – NIU volleyball seemed defeated after their first loss to Toledo University this season, showing little signs of life in their 1-3 loss. The Huskies (10-8, 3-6 MAC) came back revitalized in their second matchup with the Rockets (16-5, 7-2 MAC), refusing to go down without touching the ball.
After gaining an early 2-0 lead, NIU started to falter in the third set and gave Toledo the opportunity to take the match to five sets. The Huskies couldn’t keep their foot on the gas, dropping the match 3-2.
“Huge, huge turnaround from yesterday,” head volleyball coach Sondra D’Amore said. “I told (the team) at the end that the string everyone feels is because we worked really, really hard to beat a top team in the league, and we’re right there with them. I think if they can take away the positives of this, we can compete with the best. That’s really the message that has to be heard. The sting means you care, and that we’re right there, which I think is a really positive thing for us.”
FIGHTING FOR EVERY POINT
Three of the five sets went to extra rallies, with the Huskies winning two of those three sets (30-28, 28-26). D’Amore said there were different improvements that helped the Huskies find greater success compared to their previous match with the Rockets.
“We were in-system a lot more,” D’Amore said. “At the serve and pass game, we cleaned up a whole lot. We were able to run our offense efficiently. Hitting percentage-wise, maybe not all the way through the match, but I think the serve and pass side, really helped us be able to compete with them tonight.”
Three Huskies racked up double-doubles against the Rockets. Sophomore outside hitter Emma McCartney had the most kills of the match with 20, also making 17 digs. Redshirt junior setter Kylie Schulze matched McCartney’s digs, and earned her double-double with 28 assists. Sophomore outside hitter Ava Grevengoed reached her double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs.
Freshman outside hitter Naomi Dowd also stood out on both sides of the ball, scoring 9 kills and making 7 digs. She also added 1 assist to her stat line.
“I’d say it’s a very good step for me,” Dowd said. “I know there’s a lot of potential for me, even though I’m just starting now. My team is very supportive. My coaches are always giving me more room to grow and excel in this sport. Just having the game that I had today, I’m just proud of myself, but I know that I can do so much better. I’m just happy to see how far I’ve come.”
Sophomore setter Ella Strausberger made an impact with 26 assists and 2 service aces. She also made 1 kill and 1 dig.
ON THE BLOCK SIDE
Sophomore middle blocker Rylea Alvin kept the Huskies in the match defensively, jumping a season-high total of 9 blocks. Out of NIU’s 7 solo blocks and 10 assisted blocks, she put up five and four respectively.
Alvin also made a season-high 3 digs against Toledo, and tacked on 6 kills. She gave Toledo’s senior setter Kelsey Smith credit for her plays, but said she found ways to block the ball despite her abilities.
“(Toledo’s) setter is very, very good and hard to read,” Alvin said. “She’s very neutral, and probably one of the best setters we’ve went up against this season. (Assistant coach Mackenzie Rombach) told me to really focus on dropping my outside hand today so they don’t get across me. That’s kind of what I did, and took away hard one, and let our libero take the rest. I thought I did a good job of that, but I think we can still get better in that area.”
Freshman Delaney Steers stayed in a libero jersey for the Huskies, leading the team with 28 digs. She also logged 5 assists and 2 service aces to help the offense.
Freshman right side Eva Finnessy and Grevengoed both recorded 2 block assists. Junior middle blocker Autumn Flynn reached double digits in kills with 11, while also jumping one block assist.
UP NEXT
NIU goes back on the road to the University of Akron at 5 p.m. Friday in Akron, Ohio. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats provided on SIDEARM Sports.
