Lobdell shines in win

By Nick Gerts

Champaign — Tera Lobdell did it all for the NIU volleyball team Saturday.

In the NIU’s 30-21, 30-26, 30-28 win over Butler in the State Farm Illini Classic, the freshman finished with 14 kills, 18 digs and four aces.

“She definitely didn’t look like a freshman out there today,” coach Todd Kress said.

Kress said the left side attackers have been in a slump, and he has been scratching his head wondering what’s been wrong.

“We really needed to have our left sides get some confidence,” Kress said. “Tonight, I think, they came through huge. We have been middle-dominated the whole time, but we needed our left side to step it up and they did.”

Junior Jen VonderHaar finished with 13 kills and a .500 hitting percentage.

In Friday’s match against the No.11 Florida, according to AVCA/USA Today Top 25 Volleyball Poll, the Huskies lost in three straight games, 30-24, 30-22, 30-17.

“We had very good effort in games one and two,” Kress said. “Their coach will tell you they came out a little flat and we missed some opportunities in the first two games.”