DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University volleyball team wraps up the 2021 spring season with a two-match series against the Ohio Bobcats at Victor E. Court this Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.
Friday's match will be broadcast on NIUTube, part of Huskie All-Access on NIUHuskies.com. A 24-hour pass to NIUTube costs $6.95 with a monthly recurring subscription available for $10.95 per month.
Click here for more information on Huskie All-Access. Saturday's match will be available on ESPN+.
NIU (8-12, 8-12 MAC) looks to bounce back after a 3-0 (13-25, 18-25, 23-25) loss at Western Michigan Tuesday night.
Jasmine Kemp (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb) led the Huskies with nine kills and three blocks. Over the last eight matches Kemp has averaged 2.11 kills and 1.30 blocks per set while posting a .359 hitting percentage. The junior middle blocker is fifth in the Mid-American Conference with 1.10 blocks per set on the year.
The Huskies enter the final weekend of the regular season fourth in the MAC in blocks per set at 2.28. NIU has had at least seven blocks in 14 of 20 matches this spring with seven matches of double-digit blocks. Five Huskies are averaging at least 0.40 blocks per set this spring. Along with Kemp's 1.10 blocks per set, senior
Kennedy Wallace (Kansas City, Kan./Piper) is averaging 0.93 blocks per set.
Wallace and
Kelsy Turskey (Prairie Grove, Ill./Prairie Ridge) will be honored prior to Saturday's match for Senior Day. Turskey has appeared in 136 sets over 56 matches in her career. The defensive specialist had single-season career-highs of 10 aces and 31 digs in the 2018 season. Wallace has recorded 668 kills and 249 blocks in 107 career matches. She had a career-high 82 blocks in 2018. Last season, the middle blocker had 294 kills with a .292 hitting percentage. Wallace is second on the team in kills this season, averaging 2.51 kills while leading NIU in hitting percentage at .282.
Ohio (10-7, 10-7 MAC) is coming off a 3-1 (25-23, 25-13, 26-24, 25-23) win over Kent State on Tuesday. Mariana Rodrigues led all players with 18 kills as Tia Jimerson hit .355 with 16 kills. The Bobcats are second in the MAC with 13.77 kills per set and in hitting percentage at .237.
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