DAVIDSON, N.C. – Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) recorded a match-high 17 kills as the Northern Illinois University volleyball team earned a five-set victory (25-23, 22-25, 16-25, 25-18, 15-11) over UNC Wilmington on Friday afternoon (Sept. 1) at Davidson's Wildcat Classic. The Huskies held the Seahawks .128 hitting in the match as head coach Sondra Parys earned her first collegiate victory. 

After falling behind 2-1, the Huskies hit .371 in the fourth set and .308 in the fifth to come from behind for the victory. Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) recorded 12 kills and Katie Erdmann (Forreston, Ill./Forreston) had 10 kills in the contest, Crew Hoffmeier (Louisville, Ky./Assumpton) tallied a match-high 36 digs. 

"It was a team win," said Parys. "All 16 of our players contributed to the victory. Anytime you get a five set win it takes fight and grit. I reminded them to direct their frustration in the right direction, they did that in the fourth and fifth sets. I'm really proud of this group."

NIU took the opening set, 25-23. The Huskies led 23-19 until a three-point burst from UNCW brought the Seahawks within one, 23-22. The two teams then traded points before a kill from Savanah Brandt (Pearl City, Ill./Pearl City) gave the opening set to the Huskies. Atiemo had five kills in the opening set, hitting .444. 

UNCW led the second set, 22-17, before three consecutive kills from Atiemo brought the Huskies back within just two, 22-20. NIU trimmed the UNCW lead to just on, 23-22, on another kill from Atiemo before back-to-back Seahawk kills evened the match at one. 

A 6-0 run early in the third set gave the Seahawks a 10-3 lead. The UNCW advantage grew to 15-5 as the Seahawks went on to take the third, 25-16. 

Leading by one, 9-8, in the fourth, NIU used a three-point burst to take a four-point lead, 12-8. Nedic opened the burst with a kill before a UNCW error and an ace from Sophie Hurt (Elmhurst, Ill./IC Catholic Prep). NIU's advantage was two, 12-10, before a 5-0 run gave the Huskies a 17-10 lead. The Huskies went on to take the set, 25-18, hitting .371. Nedic recorded six kills on nine swings, hitting .556, while Erdmann added four kills. 

The fifth set was tied at eight before back-to-back kills from Brandt and Isabelle Percoco (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) put the Huskies in front by two. UNCW pulled back even at 10 before Seahawk service error gave the lead back to the Huskies. NIU scored four of the last five points, all four on kills from Nedic, to give the Huskies the fifth set, 15-11. 

Nedic had six kills in the set, hitting .600, as NIU hit. 308 as a team in the final set. 

NIU will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 2, in the Wildcat Classic. The Huskies will play host Davidson at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN+ and will then face Queens at 2:30 p.m. CT.