DeKALB, Ill.— An exciting return to Victor E. Court saw the Northern Illinois University Huskies (2-11, 0-3 MAC) host the University of Akron Zips (6-9, 2-1 MAC) in a five-set thriller on Thursday evening (Oct. 3). The Huskies posted set scores of 19-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17, and 11-15.
 
Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) led the Huskies offensively with 17 kills as three Huskies landed in double-digit kills this evening.
 
"We love playing in here, to get the crowd in, have a fun performance. It was exciting for us build on that momentum. Akron is a talented team and runs a fast offense," said NIU head coach Sondra D'Amore. "I thought this was one of the best matches we've played in a while and there are a lot of positives to take away from it. Today was a step in the right direction."
 
This was the Huskies fifth five-set match of the season.
 
Game Recap
 
Ella Strausberger (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) opened the first set with a service ace for the Huskies. Akron answered the Huskies opening scoring run with four straight points of their own. Throughout the early part of the first set, the Huskies and Zips kept the set closer, with neither team gaining a lead larger than two. Grevengoed recorded a pair of consecutive kills to extend the lead to three at 10-7. After an attacking error, Akron went on a 6-0 run that was ended by Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) kill to make it 17-15 Akron lead. Grevengoed recorded two of the four final kills for the Huskies in the first set as Akron took the set 25-19.
 
A pair of kills from Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) and Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) put the Huskies up 5-3 to start the second set of play. Güvener tied the game up at seven after the Zips strung together four straight points. The Huskies and Zips traded points and the lead throughout the early part of the second set before the Zips went up by three at 16-13. An Alexa Hayes (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia West) kill started the Huskies on a 6-2 run and give the Huskies a 21-20 lead. Battling in the closing point, an Emma McCartney (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon) service ace gave the Huskies the set point at 25-23.
 
The Huskies opened the third set with a Grevengoed kill and a McCartney ace as NIU took a 3-1 lead. A Huskie block started NIU on a 10-6 run with saw a trio of aces from Crew Hoffmeier (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) and Strausberger. Akron went on an 8-0 run to take an 18-14 lead late over the Huskies. Güvener recorded a late kill for the Huskies at 20-23 and NIU went on a 4-2 run late before dropping the third set.
 
Akron recorded a trio of attacking errors to start the fourth set as Grevengoed tallied the first ace of the set for the Huskies at 5-2. An Atiemo kill at 6-4 was the start of a 7-2 scoring streak by the Huskies to force an Akron timeout at 12-6. Kills from Alvin and Güvener gave the Huskies a seven-point lead before Alvin and Grevengoed had a pair of kills to extend the lead to eight at 21-13. Atiemo was credited with a kill and a block late in the set as NIU took the fourth set 25-17.
 
Heading into the fifth and final set, Akron took a 4-2 lead over the Huskies on a Lauren Baker kill. Atiemo recorded her 11th kill of the night to tie the game at four. An Alvin kill tied the game at seven for the final time as Atiemo, Güvener, and Grevengoed all recorded kills in the final points of the game as Akron took the fifth and final set.
 
Huskie Highlights

• Grevengoed marked her ninth game with double-digit kills.
• Atiemo's 13 kills puts her at 900 career kills.
• Hoffmeier led both teams with 20 digs.

 
The Huskies conclude action against the University of Akron on Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. on Victor E. Court. Fans are encouraged to "Wear Red" and stay after the match for post-match autographs.