YPSILANTI, Mich.—Despite a fast offensive start, the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team (3-14, 1-6 MAC) fell in a five-set battle to the Eastern Michigan University Eagles (12-10, 6-2 MAC) this evening.  
 
The Huskies saw set scores of 25-15, 25-23, 18-25, 23-25, and 10-15.
 
Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) led the Huskies with 19 kills while Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) marked her ninth double-double of the season with 16 kills and 11 digs.
 
As a team, the Huskies had nine service aces compared to four aces by the Eagles.
 
"Our serve controlled the first two sets which allowed us to transition out well and score at a high clip. Our serving pressure really shifted the momentum not in our favor in sets 3-5," said NIU head coach Sondra D'Amore. "We have to continue to fight to execute through an entire match and especially in big moments. Adaptability to keep pressure on is going to be key."
 
Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) added 13 kills as she is two kills shy of 950-career kills. Atiemo was the third and final Huskie with double-digit digs.
 
Game Recap
 
After trading the first several points, Atiemo had a pair of kills as the Huskies went on a 7-0 run to go up 10-4. Grevengoed added her first service ace of the evening as the Huskies lead 17-8 over Eastern Michigan. NIU's defense allowed no more than three points at a time as Güvener added another kill to her total for a 20-12 lead. With Emma McCartney (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon) at the service line, the Huskies won the first set on a pair of service aces.
 
The Huskies opened the second set with kills from Savanah Brandt (Pearl City, Ill./Pearl City) and Güvener as they lead 3-1 early. An attacking error by Eastern Michigan gave NIU a four-point advantage before McCartney added her third ace of the night. A pair of errors by the Huskies tied the game at nine as NIU called a timeout. Eastern Michigan took a 12-10 lead over the Huskies before NIU went on a 4-1 run to lead 14-13. An Atiemo kill put the Huskies up by two at 19-17 while a Grevengoed kill saw the Huskies reach 20 points first. The Huskies and Eagles traded points in the closing moments of the second set as Güvener recorded a pair of kills for a 2-0 Huskie lead.
 
After a kill by Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph), Grevengoed added her second and third service aces of the night amid a 4-0 run by the Huskies. Eastern Michigan answered with a 4-0 run of their own to tie the game at seven before taking a 9-7 lead. Güvener found the answer for the Huskies before the Eagles took a five-point lead at 13-8. A block by Grevengoed and Atiemo started the Huskies on a 5-2 run as they got within two at 16-14. Güvener was credited with the final kill of the third set as Eastern Michigan took the set, 25-18.
 
Grevengoed grabbed two early kills as the Huskies and Eagles battled in the fourth set with six ties before Eastern Michigan took an 8-6 lead. A Güvener kill answered a pair of consecutive points by the Eagles as they would extend their lead to six at 16-10. Alvin added a block while Güvener had a solo block before teaming up for a block as the Huskies trailed 19-16 late in the set. Güvener grabbed three kills in four points for NIU as they came within two at 21-19. It was a battle in the closing points as the Eagles took the fourth set.
 
Heading into the deciding fifth set, Eastern Michigan took the first three points before NIU called a timeout. Alexa Hayes (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia West) recorded the first kill of the set for the Huskies as Eastern Michigan responded with three straight points. Grevengoed added a kill late in the set as EMU continued the offensive pressure. Atiemo was credited with the final kill of the night for the Huskies as Eastern Michigan did a reverse sweep to win in five sets.
 
Huskie Highlights

• Grevengoed recorded her sixth game this season with three or more aces and only her second with four or more.
• Grevengoed moves into third in the MAC for total aces and aces per set.
• Atiemo tallied her 12th game this season with double-digit kills.
• Additionally, Atiemo had five blocks for the fourth time this season in tonight's contest.
• With three aces, McCartney set a new career-best in that category.
• The Huskies had 60 kills, ten blocks, and nine service aces for the fourth time this season.

 
The Huskies continue their road swing through Michigan as they travel to Central Michigan on Oct. 18. First serve is set for 5 p.m. CT in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.