MUNCIE, Ind.— Emily Dykes (Winterville, N.C./Ayden-Grifton) and
Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) lead the way for the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball program with 14 kills each as the Huskies were edged by the Ball State Cardinals in a five-set thriller. The Huskies posted set scores of 14-25, 25-21, 11-25, 25-19, 11-15 in the contest.
Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) was the third Huskie in double-digit kills, adding 12 of her own for the Huskies.
Crew Hoffmeier (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) matched her season-best for service aces at three as the Huskies recorded seven total aces in the contest. Hoffmeier was two digs off her season-best, being credited with 34 of the Huskies 66 digs.
"I'm proud of the way the team battled tonight and forced a fifth set," said head coach
Sondra Parys. "Our execution at the next has improved and we put one of the top teams in the league in a tough spot tonight. We are going to use the momentum from this game and put it in the gym and on the court."
A block by
Sarah Lezon (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) and Dykes ended a 4-0 opening run by the Cardinals in the first set. Nedic trimmed the deficit down to two with back-to-back kills. Dykes was credited with a kill, starting the Huskies on a 4-1 run. The Cardinals went on an 8-1 run, as the Huskies were credited with two attacking errors. The Huskies and Cardinals matched each other in the closing points as the Cardinals claimed the first set. The Huskies had eight kills and two blocks in the first set.
The Huskies opened the second set on a 5-2 run, which included two kills from Güvener. The Cardinals tied the game early at five before a kill by Dykes put the Huskies ahead. Two of Hoffmeier's three service aces came during a 5-4 run by the Huskies. The Cardinals had five unanswered points to take the lead at 15-12.
Ella Mihacevich (Brunswick, Ohio/ Padua Franciscan) scored back-to-back points on a kill and an ace to bring the Huskies within one. Güvener started an 11-5 run by the Huskies as the Huskies took the second set.
Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) ended six unanswered points by the Cardinals in the third set to put the Huskies on the board. After an error by the Cardinals, Lezon had a hand in back-to-back points for the Huskies with a kill and a block assist. Nedic, Dykes, and Mihacevich went on a 4-2 run as the Huskies trailed by nine late in the set. Güvener had a pair of kills for the Huskies final two points as the Huskies dropped the third set.
The Cardinals opened with back-to-back kills in the fourth set before the Huskies scored five unanswered points. A pair of error by the Cardinals put the Huskies up by four at 7-3 before Nedic recorded a kill to start a 5-1 run by the Huskies. The Cardinals responded with a run of their own, coming within two at 13-11. Maintaining their lead, the Huskies saw Nedic and Dykes record kills alongside a block by Dykes and Atiemo during a 7-2 run. The Huskies reached set point at 24-15 on an attacking error by the Cardinals. The Cardinals had four unanswered points before a kill by Güvener forced a fifth set.
The teams traded points back-and-forth in the fifth and final set with the game seeing three ties early. A kill by Dykes started a 3-0 run by the Huskies that was answered with a 3-0 run by the Cardinals. Güvener answered with a kill after a 3-1 run by the Cardinals before a service ace by Atiemo tied the set at nine. Dykes recorded the final kill of the night for the Huskies as the Cardinals ended on a 4-1 run.
The Huskies recorded nine blocks to the Cardinals eight blocks. The Cardinals recorded six more digs than the Huskies, with final dig numbers sitting at 72 (Ball State) and 66 (NIU).
The last time the Huskies had a five-set match this season was on Sept. 29 against Miami (OH).
The Huskies will conclude the 2023 season as they host Western Michigan on Nov. 15. First serve is set for 6 p.m. in Victor E. Court.
