For senior setter Gina Guide, a school record wasn’t enough to fill the emptiness she felt after losing three of four games to Illinois State University in Normal.

“No one told me,” Guide said. “We played bad. It was a rough loss.”

Guide set the school record for most digs in a four-game match with 36. The previous record was held by Megan Sprangers with 35 against Akron in October 2004.

The Huskies (2-2) and Illinois State (1-3) started the night trading scores in Game 1, but after a 7-7 tie, ISU went on a run that put them eight points ahead. The Redbirds never looked back and took Game 1, 30-22.

ISU kept the momentum going and quickly went up 10-5. NIU’s scoring improved, but it wasn’t enough as the Redbirds beat them 30-24.

“We had lots of passing trouble,” Guide said. “I’ve never passed well in that gym in my life. It’s open, airy, and the ball floats.”

In the beginning of Game 3, NIU caught its composure. With the game tied at 27, the Huskies scored a quick two points and won the game 30-28.

ISU found its dominating self and scored eight straight points in Game 4. The Huskies were never able to recover from it and lost 30-26.

“I thought we had more control of [the game],” Guide said. “It’s hard to come back from an eight-point deficit.”

Throughout the night, NIU couldn’t get a hold of Illinois State’s serves with the Redbirds scoring on 15 aces in the match. ISU sophomore Erin Lindsey led both teams with four aces.

“They served very aggressively,” NIU head coach Ray Gooden said. “They’ve been working on it a lot according to their coaching staff.”

NIU senior middle blocker Kate McCullagh had 15 kills, which led both teams. Junior outside hitter Amy Ward added nine. Sophomore Mandi Caputo posted her third double-double of the season with 38 assists and a career-high 23 digs.

ISU sophomore middle blocker Mary Catherine Richmond had 14 kills, 19 digs and five blocks. Junior middle blocker Kari Staehlin added 11 kills and also had five blocks.

“We didn’t have energy to play on the road,” Gooden said. “We can be a lot better than what we showed tonight.”

Andrew Hansen is the NIU Volleyball beat reporter for the Northern Star.