DeKALB, Ill.—The Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team matched a season-high 15 blocks as they fell in action against the Zips of Akron.  The Huskies posted set scores of 22-25, 20-25, and 16-25 in the loss.  

The Huskies had 10 blocks in the contest, led by five from Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy). Atiemo would be credited with the Huskies lone service ace in the match.

"We can put together small runs of points and moments of success," said NIU head coach Sondra Parys. "The team focus now is continuing to work on the little things, as they add up to points. Akron is (a) top serving team in our league, and they showed us that tonight. We have a quick turnaround with Buffalo, and I'm very encouraged by our conversation as a team post-game. We are ready to respond tomorrow."

The Huskies and Zips traded points early in the first set, with neither team getting more than a two-point advantage. A Katie Erdmann (Forreston, Ill./Forreston) kill tied the set at 13. Emily Dykes (Winterville, N.C./Ayden-Grifton) started a 6-2 run for the Huskies late in the set. The Zips held the Huskies to one point in the closing minutes of the set.

Starting the second set, the Huskies jumped out to a 8-3 lead as Atiemo was a part of five straight blocks by the Huskies defense. Three of those five blocks were solo blocks by Atiemo. Isabelle Percoco (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) answered three consecutive points from the Zips as the Huskies maintained a 9-6 lead. The Zips scored five unanswered points to take the lead as the Huskies would not lead again in the set. Atiemo, Percoco, and Erdmann were credited with kills as Percoco's kill tied the set for a final time at 17. Savanah Brandt (Pearl City, Ill./Pearl City) recorded two of the Huskies final three points in the second set.

Trading points in the third and final set, Percoco and Brandt teamed up for a block and tied the set at seven. The Zips went on a 10-2 run, with Brandt recording a kill during the Zips scoring run. Dykes trimmed the deficit to seven on a kill before Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) added two kills in four points for the Huskie offense, including the last Huskie point of the set.

Erdmann and Percoco led the Huskies offense with eight kills respectively. Atiemo led the Huskies with five blocks and was joined by Percoco with four blocks.

With the loss, the Huskies fell to 8-16 on the season and 6-6 in the MAC.

The Huskies continue their weekend action on Oct. 28, hosting the Buffalo at 4 p.m. in the annual "Pink Game".