NIU volleyball needed to find its rhythm against the University of Akron Saturday night, but the road remains unkind to the Huskies. NIU (10-10, 3-8 MAC) struggled to communicate against Akron (11-11, 4-7 MAC), and Akron once again capitalized on that struggle.
The Huskies put up a fight on offense, but the Zips had an answer. NIU dropped its sixth straight game, losing to Akron 1-3.
“We beat ourselves today,” head volleyball coach Sondra D’Amore said via text. “Playing on the road is tough, and we got pushed by Akron with serving pressure today. When that falls consistently, it has been hard for us to bounce back.”
ONE THOUSAND ASSISTS
Despite taking another loss, the Huskies got to celebrate sophomore setter Ella Strausberger reaching 1,000 career assists in the third set.
Strausberger ended the game with 21 assists and 1,008 career assists. She also picked up 1 kill and 2 digs. Strausberger gave credit to her team for making this achievement possible.
“I am very excited to reach this accomplishment of mine,” Strausberger said via text. “Although I have to give all credit to my passers and hitters – without them, I wouldn’t be able to do it. From my perspective, I just think of it as my hitters got 1,000 kills! I am very thankful to be in this loving and supportive environment.”
Redshirt junior setter Kylie Schulze also kept NIU involved in the match with 20 assists, 2 kills and 1 service ace, while also tacking on 3 digs. Freshman Delaney Steers led the team with 24 digs, and helped with 2 assists.
SENIOR SEASON
Senior right side Alexa Hayes was one of two offensive leaders for the Huskies, racking up 11 kills. She also made 1 block assist and 2 digs to help the defense. When the going gets tough, she helps her teammates on the court put things into perspective.
“I try to talk them up the best I can,” Hayes said via text. “(I try to) make sure that they know a point is just a point, and it does not and will not even define an entire game! I have been playing the game long enough to know how capable I am, so I want to make sure that they are aware they are well-trained and very capable of being in the position that they are in!”
Sophomore outside hitter Ava Grevengoed also led the offense, tying Hayes with 11 kills. With her third consecutive and ninth double-double of the season, Grevengoed also logged 11 digs.
Junior middle blocker Autumn Flynn landed 9 kills, jumped 3 block assists and made 1 dig.
Sophomore outside hitter Emma McCartney recorded 8 kills and 3 assists offensively, and added 1 solo block, 2 block assists and 7 digs defensively.
UP NEXT
The Huskies end their three-game road trip at Western Michigan University at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats provided on StatBroadcast.
