DeKALB, Ill.—Closing out the month of October, the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team battled in four sets to the visiting Bulls of the University at Buffalo. The Huskies posted set scores of 18-25, 18-25, 25-23, and 18-25 in the loss.

The Huskies, who are second in the MAC for blocks, recorded their sixth game this season with 12 or more blocks. Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) led the Huskies with 14 kills while Isabelle Percoco (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg led the team with six blocks, matching her season best.

"Today's match showed the grit and determination the team has to find ways to stay in the game," said NIU head coach Sondra Parys. "We had different athletes step up and have solid performances. Our third set win showed our ability to execute the basics. Our focus, as ever, remains on getting better at the little things and responding to the next challenge."

The opening set was a series of scoring runs for both sides of the ball as the Huskies recorded three early blocks. Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) and Emily Dykes (Winterville, N.C./Ayden-Grifton) recorded early blocks and kills as the Huskies battled throughout the set. Güvener tallied three kills late for the Huskies, bringing the game within six late. In the first set, the Huskies were credited with a hitting percentage of .294.

The first 12 points were traded back and forth between the squads with neither team getting more than a two-point advantage. Güvener had a series of three kills to tie the game up at nine before the Bulls had three unanswered points. Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) started the Huskies on a 4-2 run, which included three consecutive kills by the Huskie offense. An Atiemo kill put the Huskies within two at 19-17, the closest they would get in the second set as Buffalo took a two-set lead.

The Huskies were credited with 12 kills in the second set and a hitting percentage of .344.

The third set featured 11 tied scores and three lead changes as the Bulls would take an early 10-7 lead. Shannon Dunkin (Menifee, Calif./Paloma Valley) had a block which started a 6-3 run by the Huskies which ended with a block by Nedic with the score tied at 13. The Huskies and Bulls traded points before the Bulls scored three unanswered points. Güvener started the Huskies offense late in the third set with a kill as the Huskies came from behind to win the third set 25-23. The Huskies added two blocks in the closing points of the third set.  

The Bulls took an early 6-1 lead in the fourth and final set. Atiemo got two quick points for the Huskies to trim the deficit to four. Nedic and Dykes started a 4-1 run for the Huskies in the middle of the set. The Bulls had three unanswered points before the Huskies answered with a Dunkin block and Güvener kill. The Huskies capitalized on late errors by the Bulls before falling short in their comeback.

With the loss, the Huskies moved to 8-17 on the season and 6-7 in MAC play.

The Huskies continue action in Victor E. Court, as they host Toledo on Nov. 3 and 4. The Huskies and Rockets will open their series on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m.