DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University volleyball team rallied from 2-1 down Thursday afternoon to defeat the Miami RedHawks 3-2 (25-20. 17-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-11) at Victor E. Court for the Huskies' fourth consecutive win.
 
"We were fortunate to pull it out at the end," said head coach Ray Gooden. "It's good to see our team do some positive things and if the result is winning then that's great. We were able to manage the situation at the end and give our best effort. We just need to continue to play that same way and get the same effort beginning, middle and end."
 
Sophomore Katie Jablonski (Elburn, Ill./New Hampshire) led NIU with 15 kills, adding 11 digs for her sixth double-double of the season. She also had a season-high four blocks. Kaitlyn Bell (De Soto, Kan./De Soto) had 11 digs and three blocks. Setter Grace Balensiefer (Lafayette, Ind./McCutcheon) distributed 37 assists while also putting down four kills. The Huskies' middle blocker duo of Kennedy Wallace (Kansas City, Kan./Piper) and Jasmine Kemp (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) combined for 13 blocks with Kemp putting up a season-high eight.
 
NIU (5-6, 5-6 MAC) got off to a fast start in the fourth set after falling behind 2-1, winning the four of the first five points. The RedHawks came back to tie the set at five but an Ella Mihacevich (Brunswick, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) kill started an 8-2 Huskies run that put NIU ahead 13-7. NIU led 17-10 when a Lindsay Taylor kill sparked a 5-1 Miami run that got the RedHawks within three, 18-15. NIU earned set point at 24-21 on a block by Jablonski and Kemp. Miami fought off two set points but a Jablonski kill gave the Huskies' the fourth set 25-23 and new life for NIU in the match.
 
Miami (4-5, 4-5 MAC) took the first three points of the fifth on kills from Allyson Severance and Maggie McCrary. The Huskies came back with six of the next seven points with a Jablonski kill giving NIU a 6-4 lead. The RedHawks tied the set at six and the two teams traded points up to 8-8. A pair of Miami errors and a Bell kill put NIU back in the lead 11-9. Miami got within one at 12-11 but the Huskies took over from there. NIU forced two RedHawks errors to get match point at 14-12, then won the set 15-12 on a block by Kemp and Jablonski to win the match 3-2.
 
"We played a little cleaner in those last two sets and made some more gritty plays," Gooden said. "Jasmine [Kemp] did a good job in the front row touching balls on the block and then we some big swings as well. We had good control on our side and that helped us find success at the end."
 
The Huskies used a 4-0 run capped by a Samantha Juarez (Batavia, Ill./Batavia) to take a 6-4 lead in the opening set. The lead grew to four at 13-9 on a block by Wallace and Bell. Miami then went on a 5-1 run capped by a pair of Sarah Wojick kills to tie the set at 14. The two teams traded points up to 19-19 when a pair of Bell kills started a 6-1 NIU run that gave the Huskies the opening set 25-20. NIU hit .273 in the opening set with four aces.
 
The RedHawks' offense took over in set two, hitting .400 as Miami held NIU to a -.067 mark to win it 25-17 and tie the match at one set all. Miami used a 5-0 run early in set three to take an 8-6 lead. The RedHawks' lead grew to six at 19-13 when a Taylor kill capped a 6-1 Miami run. NIU got within three at 22-19 but the RedHawks won the last three points to take the set 25-19 and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
NIU hit .149 in the match but had 13 blocks to Miami's seven. The Huskies also had eight service aces. Miami hit .235 as a team and held a 68-54 advantage in digs. Sophie Riemersma led the RedHawks with 15 kills as libero Abigail Huser led the match with 27 digs.
 
The two teams wrap up their series Friday at 6 p.m. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
Although fans are unable to attend NIU volleyball matches this season, you can still make your presence felt in Victor E. Court by purchasing a cutout as part of the "Huskie Howl" presented by First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO). For just $60, fans can put their image on a cutout that will remain in place in Victor E. Court for all NIU volleyball matches during the 2021 spring season. Net proceeds from all fan cutouts will benefit the Huskie Athletic Fund. Click here to order your cutout.
 
--NIU--