ST. PAUL— Sophie Hurt (Elmhurst, Ill./IC Catholic Prep) set a new career-best in assists as the Northern Illinois University Huskies (0-3) volleyball team took the Valparaiso University Beacons (3-1) to five sets in the opening match of the St. Thomas Invitational. The Huskies posted set scores of 23-25, 25-23, 22-25, 26-24, and 11-15.  
 
In the contest, Hurt was credited with 29 assists, setting a new career-high. Her previous best had been 28, which was set in 2023 against Bowling Green. Hurt also tallied her fourth career double-double with 12 digs in the game.

Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) recorded her second double-double as a Huskie, tallying 15 kills and 17 digs.
 
Grevengoed and Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) led the team with 15 kills each while Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) added 10 kills for the Huskies.
 
"The team has a lot more composure and confidence in big moments and that is something that we can continue to build on, especially in fifth sets," said head coach Sondra D'Amore. "They battled hard at the end of each set and that was a focus this week in practice."
 
Valpo recorded 12 service aces in the contest compared to the four aces from the Huskies.
 
Game Recap
 
Savanah Brandt (Pearl City, Ill./Pearl City) tallied the first kill of the afternoon for the Huskies, making the score 4-3 in favor of Valpo. A block from Atiemo and Grevengoed started the Huskies on a 5-2 run to lead 11-10 through the middle of the opening set. After trading points back-and-forth, Valpo took the lead for a final time at 14-13. Güvener and Ella Strausberger (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) accounted for a 3-1 run to bring the Huskies within one as Grevengoed add the final kill of the first set at 22-20.
 
Alexa Hayes (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia West) started the second set for the Huskies with a kill as the set was tied five times in the opening points. A kill from Grevengoed began a 6-0 run by the Huskies to jump out to a 13-7 lead. The Huskies maintained a six-point advantage throughout the set with a total of 13 kills in the set. Valpo had a 6-1 run of their own to bring the game within one at 20-19 before Güvener had back-to-back kills for the Huskies.
 
Atiemo and Grevengoed combined for the first three Huskie points in the third set as the Huskies and Beacons began a back-and-forth battle. Following a block by Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) to tie the game at five, Valpo went on an 8-3 run to jump out to a 12-8 lead. After dropping to a seven-point deficit, Grevengoed connected on a pass from Crew Hoffmeier (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) for a kill to start a 6-0 run from the Huskies to bring the game within one at 18-17. Atiemo and Hoffmeier recorded kills in the closing points of the third set while Alvin and Brandt combined for back-to-back blocks.
 
Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) had the first three kills of the fourth set for the Huskies as they took an early 4-2 lead. On a 5-2 run to take a 10-6 NIU lead, Grevengoed accounted for three of the kills. Valpo responded with six unanswered points of their own for a 12-10 lead over NIU. Güvener had three consecutive kills to tie the game at 14. Nedic and Atiemo blocked an attack from Valpo to make it 21-20 late in the set. Extra points would be needed to determine a winner of the set and three straight kills from the Huskies sent the game to a fifth and final set.
 
Entering the fifth set, Güvener and Alvin recorded early kills as Valpo took a 5-4 lead over the Huskies. A kill by Alvin tied the game at 6-6 before Valpo went on a 5-1 run. Grevengoed and Atiemo had kills in the closing points of the set, as Valpo held off NIU offensive attacks to win the match in five sets.
 
Huskie Highlights

• Alvin and Atiemo led the team in blocks, with each getting five blocks in the game.  
• Three Huskies had double-digit digs, led by Hoffmeier's 29.
• Grevengoed led the team with two service aces. She has recorded multiple service aces in all three of the Huskies games this season.
• The Huskies have seen two players get double-doubles in the last two games this season.

 
The Huskies continue action at the St. Thomas Invitational as they take on Tarleton State on September 6 at 4 p.m.