DeKALB, Ill.—A battle from the first serve, the Northern Illinois University Huskies hosted the Ohio University Bobcats on Friday, Oct. 11 inside Victor E. Court. The Huskies (3-13, 1-5 MAC) posted set scores of 22-25, 25-27, and 23-25 against the Bobcats (7-10, 3-3 MAC).
 
Ella Strausberger (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) recorded a career-best four kills as Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) led the team with 13 kills.
 
"The level of competition on both sides was strong. I thought we did a lot of good things to put ourselves in a position to win each set. We had leads in each set and we have to find a way to hold onto them," said NIU head coach Sondra D'Amore. "One of their (Ohio) strengths is their block and height so we'll have to be crafty and find ways to execute against a big block, especially down the stretch with other teams. We're trying to find the balance of being fearless and aggressive while keeping the ball in play."
 
Game Recap
 
Neither team led by more than two points early in the first set as it was a battle on the court. Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) had a pair of kills to bring the Huskies within two after the Bobcats went up by three at 8-5. An Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) kill tied the set up at 12 before a second kill put the Huskies up 14-12. The Huskies took their final lead of the opening set at 15-14 on a Grevengoed kill before Ohio responded with four straight points. Güvener recorded two kills in the closing points as Ohio took the first set 22-25.
 
Atiemo had the first two kills of the second set for the Huskies as the teams saw two tied scores early in the set. A Strausberger kill started the Huskies on a 5-1 run to take a 9-6 lead. The Bobcats brought the game back to within one before tying the game at 10. Four additional tie scores would occur before Atiemo connected on a pass from Strausberger to tie the game at 14. A Güvener kill late in the set put NIU up by three at 22-19 before Atiemo reached set point with a kill at 24-22. The Bobcats went on a 5-1 run to take the second set in extra points.
 
Heading into the final set, NIU saw two early tie scores as an Atiemo kill started the Huskies on a 3-1 run and a 7-4 lead. Strausberger recorded two of her three kills in this set early as the Huskies built their lead out to four on a Güvener kill at 10-6. Ohio battled back to bring the game within one at 11-10 before Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) and Grevengoed had a trio of kills for the Huskies. NIU kept a five-point advantage over the Bobcats before Ohio started a 6-2 run to tie the game at 21. Nedic and Grevengoed recorded the final two kills of the evening for the Huskies as Ohio took the third and final set.
 
Huskie Highlights

• Strausberger and Emma McCartney (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon) were each credited with a service ace in the contest.
• Atiemo's 13 kills moves her to a career total of 935 kills.
• This was the third highest hitting percentage of the season for the Huskies at .223.

The Huskies head to Michigan for a three-game stint, beginning on Oct. 17 at Eastern Michigan. Game time is set for 5 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.