Sept. 5, 2014

Final Stats

AMES, Iowa - The Northern Illinois University volleyball team earned a second-straight sweep Friday at the Iowa State Challenge, defeating Omaha, 3-0.
 
The Huskie defense held the Mavericks in check, limiting Omaha to a .071 attack percentage and forcing 21 attack errors in three sets. In addition, NIU continued with their torrid serving streak by posting nine aces.
 
"It was a real battle tonight," said NIU head coach Ray Gooden. "We knew it was going to be a war against Omaha. They've had success against good teams in our conference, so we needed to come charged up and ready to play. We needed to scrap it and fight it out."
 
Just hours removed from a 3-0 win over Tennessee, the Huskies and Mavericks traded points en route to a 7-7 deadlock. However, NIU broke it open with a 3-0 run courtesy of three Omaha miscues. A pair of aces from Paige Dacanay (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) - two of six by NIU in the opening stanza - coupled with kills from Mary Grace Kelly (Strongsville, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) and Jenna Radtke (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) pushed the Huskie advantage to 20-11. That is all NIU would need, as they coasted to a 25-17 first set win.
 
NIU kept firing in the second set, racing out to a 12-4 lead on Omaha behind kills from Mackenzie Roddy (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon), Lauren Zielinski (Oak Forest, Ill./Marist), Shelby Seurer (Delano, Minn./Delano), Alexis Gonzalez (Fresno, Calif./Bullard), Kelly and Radtke. The Huskies didn't keep off the gas, either, pushing the lead to 19-8. Omaha cut the lead to 19-13 following a 5-0 run, but NIU staved off the scrappy Mavericks to post a 25-18 second set win.
 
Out of the break, neither side could break away, as both sides exchanged mini-runs. However, with the score at 6-5 in Omaha's favor, NIU scored eight of the next 10 points for a 13-8 lead. The Mavericks, though, refused to relent, keeping within striking distance of the Huskies. That would eventually pay off for Omaha, as 3-0 run late got the Mavs to a 21-21 tie. Yet, NIU took advantage of some Omaha errors and kills from Roddy and Zielinski to stop the comeback and claim a 25-23 set three triumph.
 
Radtke paced the Huskie offense with 13 kills and a .706 attack percentage in the sweep, while Roddy and Zielinski chipped in nine and six spikes, respectively. On defense, Radtke accounted for three block assists and Roddy totaled eight digs.
 
The Huskies close out their run at the Iowa State Challenge tomorrow when they face the host Cyclones. First serve is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. inside Hilton Coliseum.