ST. PAUL— After dropping the opening set, the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team (1-3) went on to defeat the Tarleton State Texans in a five-set thriller. The Huskies posted set scores of 12-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-20, and 15-12.
 
After setting a new career-high in assists in last night's game against Valparaiso, Sophie Hurt (Elmhurst, Ill./IC Catholic Prep) reset her career-high this evening with 38 assists in the Huskies victory.

Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) recorded her third straight double-double, claiming 12 kills and 21 digs. Grevengoed led the team with three service aces.
 
"The biggest takeaway from tonight's match was how we responded after set 1," said head coach Sondra D'Amore. "Starting fast as been a focus and despite that, the team fought through and found a way to win. We're getting comfortable competing in scenarios and I'm proud of the composure we kept in the fifth. We're learning something new each match, which is ultimately going to be great for our future."
 
Game Recap
 
Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) recorded the first kill of the game for the Huskies before Savanah Brandt (Pearl City, Ill./Pearl City) entered the scorebook with her first kill of the game. The Texans went on an 14-4 run through the early part of the first set before Grevengoed ended the run with a kill to make in 16-6. Grevengoed tallied a total of four kills in the opening set to lead the Huskies as the Huskies dropped the set 25-12.
 
Atiemo and Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) tallied back-to-back kills for the Huskies as NIU had four unanswered points to take an early 4-2 lead. Tarleton State tied the set at five on an attacking error by the Huskies before recording a service error to give the Huskie the lead back for the final time. Led by a service ace from Emma McCartney (Chadron, Ohio/Chadron), NIU went on a 7-4 run which saw four Huskie kills. Tarleton State brought the game within one at 13-12 before Brandt put the Huskies up by two at 14-12. Tarleton State was unable to get close to the Huskies again in the set as a Nedic kill put the Huskies up by six late in the second. A Grevengoed kill secured the set win for the Huskies, tying the game up at 1-1.
 
Trading points early in the third set, Atiemo had consecutive kills for the Huskies as the Huskies tied the set up at four. Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) accounted for three of the Huskies kills as the Huskies started a 5-2 run to take the lead at 13-10. Güvener connected with Hurt for a kill as the Huskies went up by four through the middle of the third set. Tarleton State scored three unanswered points to bring the set within one at 16-15. The third set saw six tied scores in the closing points as Tarleton State pulled away to take a 2-1 lead over the Huskies.
 
A kill from Güvener started the fourth set and the Huskies on a 4-0 run before Tarleton State came back to tie the game at 5. Tarleton State took a two-point advantage (8-6) before an Alvin kill started the Huskies on a 6-2 run to lead 12-10. After trading points back and forth throughout the middle of the set, Grevengoed recorded a kill to put the Huskies in the lead for a final time. Güvener scored of trio of consecutive kills as the Huskies took the fourth set 25-20.
 
Heading into the decisive final set, the Huskies took a 3-1 lead courtesy of a pair of Atiemo kills and an ace from Grevengoed. Tarleton State tied the game up at four as Güvener answered with a kill to regain the lead for NIU. A kill by Atiemo put the Huskies up 9-7 as the team recorded four kills in the final points to take the fifth set, 15-12.
 
Huskie Highlights

• Grevengoed has not had a match for the Huskies without recording a minimum of two service aces. After four matches, she leads the team with 13 aces.
• The Huskies recorded 10 aces for the second time this season in their third straight five-set match.
• Güvener led the team with 20 kills as four Huskies had double-digit kills (Atiemo-16, Grevengoed-12, Nedic-10).
• Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) led the team with six blocks. 

The Huskies conclude action at the St. Thomas Invitational on September 7 as they face the St Thomas at 5 p.m.