DeKALB, Ill.— Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) and Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) led the Huskies with a combined 31 kills as the Northern Illinois University Huskies (2-12, 0-4 MAC) took on the University of Akron Zips (7-9, 3-1 MAC) in a five-set battle inside Victor E. Court on the NIU campus.
 
NIU put up set scores of 25-20, 14-25, 25-14, 12-25, and 10-15.
 
"Tonight had a little bit more high-high and low-lows, throughout the match, on both sides. You got to find a way to play cleaner and more consistent and this is a game of momentum. The message is to continue to push. I'm proud of the grit and the effort," said NIU head coach Sondra D'Amore.
 
Grevengoed her eighth double-double of the season, grabbing 13 kills and 14 digs.
 
Game Recap
 
Emma McCartney (Chadron, Ohio/Chadron) had the first service ace of the evening as the Huskies opened the first set on a 4-0 run. Grevengoed tallied her first kill of the game as Akron had an attacking error the next point to give the Huskies a six-point lead at 9-3. Akron strung together a 4-1 run to bring the game within three before Güvener and Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) combined for a block. The Huskies' defense remained steadfast as the Zips brought the game within three at 20-17. Four different Huskies marked kills in the closing points as the Huskies took the first set.
 
 Alvin had the first kill of the second set for the Huskies as Akron had eight unanswered points to take an 8-1 lead over the Huskies. Grevengoed was credited with only two kills in the second set, both coming in the opening points for the Huskies. Akron extended their lead to seven at 13-6 on a service ace. Güvener marked three kills for the Huskies as the NIU offense was unable to answer the opening scoring from Akron, dropping the second set.
 
The Huskies and Zips traded points to start the third set before Grevengoed had consecutive kills to put NIU up at 7-5. Grevengoed put the Huskies up at 9-6 as NIU recorded seven kills to extend their lead to eight at 16-8. The Huskie offense continued to fire on all cylinders, as Güvener and Sarah Lezon (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) had consecutive kills for a 12-point Huskie lead. Akron went on a 3-0 run late as Güvener found the Huskie answer. NIU recorded 17 kills in the third set, going up 2-1.
 
The first three kills of the fourth set went to Güvener as the Zips jumped out to an 8-4 lead over the Huskies. Akron built their lead out to seven on a service ace at 13-6 before a series of errors brought the Huskies within four at 15-11. Güvener had the final kill of the set for the Huskies as Akron ended the fourth set on a 10-0 run.
 
Needing a fifth and final set, Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) had the first kill for the Huskies as Akron opened with a 5-2 run. Atiemo had two additional early kills for the Huskies as Akron maintained a two-point advantage over the Huskies. Starting with an Alvin kill, the Huskies went on a 3-0 run to bring the Huskies within one at 9-8. Alvin and Alexa Hayes (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia West) teamed up for a block as Akron went on a 5-0 run to take the fifth set.
 
Huskie Highlights

• The Huskies had their fifth highest attacking percentage of the season, landing at .201.
• Güvener led the Huskies with 18 kills as she leads the team in kills per set. 
• With four blocks, Alvin led the Huskies and was followed by Hayes, Atiemo, and Güvener with three blocks each.
• The Huskies hit above .200 for the fifth time this season.
• With her eight kills, Atiemo now sits at 908 career kills.

The Huskies continue action at home, as they host Kent State on Oct. 10. First serve is set for 6 p.m. inside Victor E. Court.