DeKALB, Ill. --  Three members of the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team (10-8, 3-6 MAC) recorded double-doubles as the Huskies fell in action to the Rockets of the University of Toledo (16-5, 7-2 MAC) in a five-set battle. Three of the five sets featured extra points as the Huskies posted set scores of 30-28, 28-26, 19-25, 21-25, and 19-21.
 
Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) marked her seventh double-double of the season, 20th overall as Emma McCartney (Cleveland, Ohio/Chadron) marked her third career double-double. McCartney's 20 kills led all players as she matched her career-best in kills and digs (17).
 
Kylie Schulze (Wonder Lake, Ill./Woodstock North) had her fourth double-double of the season as she led the Huskies with 28 assists, a career-best.
 
"Huge turnaround from yesterday. The sting that is felt is because they worked hard to beat a top team (in the league). We can compete with the best and we were right there," said Sondra D'Amore, NIU Head Coach. "We were in system a lot more and cleaned up the serve-and-pass game. If we can continue to play with that level of intention and belief, the future is bright."
 
How It Happened
 
McCartney recorded the first two kills of the game for the Huskies before the Rockets jumped out to a 6-3 lead. Autumn Flynn (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) started an 8-2 Huskies run that saw NIU take a 12-8 lead. McCartney extended the lead to five at 17-12 before the Rockets fought back to be within two at 19-17. Toledo reached set point first after a 5-2 run before McCartney tied the game at 24. Grevengoed recorded three kills in the tight end to the set as Delaney Steers (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) sealed the set one victory with an ace at 30-28.
 
Naomi Dowd (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and Flynn recorded the first two kills of the second set for the Huskies as the teams traded points back-and-forth early. Toledo went on an early 5-1 run, taking an 11-8 lead over the Huskies before consecutive points by NIU brought them within one. An Ella Strausberger (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) tied the game at 13 with her first of two service aces. The teams continued to battle before the Rockets began to pull away, taking a 20-17 lead. Grevengoed started a 4-0 run for NIU that brought the game to 21-20. Mirroring the first set, Toledo reached set point first before the Huskies forced extra points. NIU ended the set on a 4-1 run as they took a 2-0 lead.
 
After seeing four tie scores early in the third set, Toledo went on a 9-3 run for a 14-8 lead. NIU responded with an 8-4 run, which reached kills from four different Huskies as they trimmed the deficit to two at 18-16. Toledo continued to keep the offensive pressure on, ending the third set on a 7-3 run.
 
A McCartney kill gave the Huskies an early 5-3 lead in the fourth set as the Huskies and Rockets continue to battle inside Victor E. Court. The Rockets strung together five unanswered points before Dowd and Steers had back-to-back points for the Huskies. The teams would trade scoring runs as the Rockets keep a minimum three-point lead over NIU as the Huskies recorded a kill to make it 18-15. The teams continued to trade points as Toledo used their earlier advantage to force a fifth and final set.
 
Flynn had four straight kills in the fifth set as the Huskies took a 6-3 lead early. Toledo responded with six unanswered points before a service error ended their scoring run. Led by a Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) kill, the Huskies went on a 6-2 run for a 13-11 lead. Alvin put the Huskies at match point before back-to-back points by the Rockets gave them match point at 15-14. The Rockets ended the game on a 6-5 run as extra points were needed with set five ending 21-19.
 
Additional Career Marks Set
 
Eva Finnessy (Pewaukee, Wis./Sussex Hamilton), Alvin, Steers, and Dowd recorded career-best performances in this evening's contest.  
 
Alvin and Finnessy set new marks in blocks while Dowd recorded nine kills for a new best. A trio of Huskies (Steers, Dowd, McCartney) all reached new marks in digs while Steers added a career best in assists.  
 
The Huskies will see their next three games on the road, starting with a trip to Akron on October 24-25. First serve is set for 5 p.m. CT in Akron, Ohio on October 24.
 
Need more Huskies Volleyball? Follow us on Twitter/X at @NIUVolleyball, on Facebook at NIU Volleyball, and on Instagram at @NIUVolley.