TOLEDO, Ohio— Opening Mid-American Conference play, the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team were led by Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) and Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) offensively as the Huskies fell in straight sets to the University of Toledo Rockets (8-5, 1-0 MAC).
 
The Huskies (2-9, 0-1 MAC) posted set scores of 21-25, 22-25, and 18-25.
 
Güvener talied 15 kills, with an attacking percentage of .294. Grevengoed grabbed eight kills, two solo bolcks, and three service aces in the contest.
 
"We need to defend their outsiders better," said NIU head coach Sondra D'Amore. "I thought we did a great job putting pressure on them from the service line. We need to continue that tomorrow and all of MAC play."
 
Game Recap
 
Sophie Hurt (Elmhurst, Ill./IC Catholic Prep) opened the game with a service ace for the Huskies as the Huskies took an early 4-2 lead over the Rockets. The Rockets answered with three straight points to take the lead as Grevengoed tied the game up at five. The Huskies and Rockets traded points and the lead as Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) recorded her first kill of the game. Toledo went on an 8-0 run before Grevengoed found an answer for the Huskies. A Sarah Lezon (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) and Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) block put the Huskies within four at 19-15. A Grevengoed kill brought the Huskies within three at 24-21 before Toledo took the first set, 25-21.  
 
Starting the second set, Güvener recorded consecutive kills before adding a third kill in the opening points of the set. A Grevengoed solo block started the Huskies on a 5-0 run, forcing a Toledo timeout at 12-7. Atiemo and Güvener tallied two points for the Huskies as Toledo brought the score within three at 14-13. Lezon and Atiemo answered Toledo's points with kills of their own as the Huskies maintained at three-point advantage at 19-16. Toledo tied the game up at 20 before a pair of attacking errors by the Huskies gave Toledo the lead at 22-20. Alvin and Güvener were credited with a kill as the Rockets took the second set.
 
Grevengoed added her third ace of the evening as Toledo took a 4-2 lead over the Huskies in the third set. Toledo embarked on a 6-0 run as Alvin answered for the Huskies at 11-6. Grevengoed had back-to-back points via a kill and a block to bring the Huskies with four at 12-8 before Toledo extended their lead to seven. A Güvener kill brought the Huskies within three at 13-16 as Güvener recorded four of her total 15 kills in the third set, answering attacks from Toledo as the Rockets took the third and final set.
 
Huskie Highlights

• Grevengoed recorded her seventh double-digit dig game and fifth game leading the Huskies in aces.
• Grevengoed marked her fifth game this season with three or more aces, bringing her season total to 22 aces.
• Güvener led the Huskies in kills for the fifth time this season

The Huskies conclude the opening weekend of MAC play as they take on Toledo on Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. CT.