NIU volleyball rounded out its season on the road against Kent State University Saturday night. The Huskies (13-14, 6-12 MAC) proved their last victory over the Golden Flashes (8-21, 3-15 MAC) was earned, and KSU couldn’t respond effectively.
NIU found consistency quicker than in its last match to hold KSU at four sets. The Huskies took down the Golden Flashes 3-1 to end their season with a sweep against a Mid-American Conference opponent on the road.
“I am proud to have ended the season on two road wins,” head volleyball coach Sondra D’Amore said via text. “We cleaned up many areas of our game today and were able to stick to the game plan better.”
GETTING THE JOB DONE
After beating the Golden Flashes in five sets the night before, the Huskies were able to claim victory in four sets. NIU out-served KSU 12-4 in service aces and out-blocked them 12-11.
“You saw a much more consistent team tonight, which was a focus,” D’Amore said via text. “(Our) mentality was to focus on the details throughout each point and not let the outcome of the game be the focus.”
Sophomore setter Ella Strausberger led the Huskies with 22 assists and added 5 digs. She also led the team with 4 service aces to match her season high a third time this year. When it comes to her sets and serves, Strausberger prioritizes helping her team score.
“My serving game is really important to me,” Strausberger said via text. “When serving, my goal is to put the other team in a bad situation to result in a translation kill for us. When I am setting, my main focus is to put my attackers in the best position possible. I want my set to be a ball where they are confident to get a good swing.”
Redshirt junior setter Kylie Schulze also kept the Golden Flashes down, collecting her sixth double-double of the season with 20 assists and 11 digs.
LOOKING FORWARD
Although the Huskies didn’t make postseason play, this has been their most winning season since 2022.
“This season was a huge step in the right direction,” D’Amore said via text. “We have a lot of returners who are hungry for more.”
Freshman middle blocker Savannah Gogel made an offensive and defensive impact, making two season-highs with 7 block assists and 3 digs. She also landed 9 kills and added 1 assist. As one of seven freshmen currently on the team, Gogel looks forward to growing her game alongside her teammates to compete harder next season.
“We’re still wanting more,” Gogel said via text. “We’re going to go into the spring and really just go to work preparing for next fall. We’re obviously a young team, so I think that’s a good (thing). We’re just going to keep growing and developing for next year.”
Sophomore outside hitter Emma McCartney reached her seventh double-double of the season with 13 kills and 14 digs. She also contributed 4 assists, 2 service aces and 1 block assist. Sophomore outside hitter Ava Grevengoed matched McCartney’s offensive efforts with 13 kills and made 9 digs. Grevengoed also landed 3 service aces and tacked on 1 assist and block assist each.
Freshman outside hitter Naomi Dowd and junior middle blocker Autumn Flynn each contributed 7 kills. On defense, Flynn added 4 block assists and 2 digs, while Dowd had 3 block assists of her own. The pair got two and 1 assists, respectively, and Flynn had 1 service ace.
WHAT’S NEXT?
With their last MAC season in the books, the Huskies head to the Horizon League in 2026. D’Amore says it’s only up from here for NIU volleyball.
“We know there are still learning moments to come and areas of improvement both physically and mentally that can put us in even greater positions next season,” D’Amore said via text. “I”m confident with the right athletes, who stay bought into what we are building, that we will continue to get better for the years to come.”
