DeKALB, Ill.—With a reverse sweep to snap a seven-game losing streak, the Northern Illinois University Huskies (11-11, 4-9 MAC) defeated the University at Buffalo Bulls (7-15, 4-9 MAC) inside Victor E. Court this evening. The Huskies and Bulls posted set scores of 25-27, 23-25, 25-19, 25-16, and 15-10.
 
Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) marked her tenth double-double of the season as she led the Huskies with 15 kills. Emma McCartney (Cleveland, Ohio/Chadron) collected her fourth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 12 digs. McCartney set a new career-best in blocks with five in tonight's contest.
 
Savannah Gogel (Santa Claus, Ind/Heritage Hills) got her first collegiate start this evening as she recorded 13 kills, two aces, and five block assists in the match. Gogel set new career marks in six statistical categories.
 
"We've been saying all year that our middles can be great, and you saw that tonight with all three of them. I'm proud of them for leading into what we need," said head coach Sondra D'Amore. "We've talked about our depth and we are going to need everybody. Finding a way to win in five is the confidence that we needed. It was refreshing to see that mentality come back. It's hard when you have the stretch that we did, and I saw some big shifts (from the team)."
 
How It Happened
 
The Huskies opened the first set of play on a 7-2 run which featured kills from four different Huskies. McCartney extended the Huskies lead to seven at 11-4 with her second ace in three points for NIU before Buffalo went on a 5-2 run. The Bulls tied the game at 13 before the teams traded points throughout the middle of the set. Back-to-back kills by Grevengoed tied the set at 21 before the Bulls took the first set on a 6-3 run.
 
The Huskies and Bulls traded points early in the second set with neither team gaining more than a two-point advantage before a timeout was called at 10-9. The second set of play featured 21 tie scores as the final tie score came at 23 with Buffalo taking the final two points. McCartney, Gogel, and Naomi Dowd (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) combined for nine of the Huskies 11 kills in the set.
 
After mirroring the second set, the Huskies and Bulls traded points until a kill by Ella Strausberger (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) gave NIU a three-point lead at 7-4. The early portion of the set featured three more tie scores before Buffalo began to pull away at 12-10, prompting a timeout on the court. NIU called the second timeout of the set as they trailed 16-13. Returning from the timeout, the Huskies had five unanswered points, including consecutive aces by Gogel to take an 18-16 lead. The Huskies finished the third set on a 7-3 run as they extended the match.
 
The fourth set of action opened in a similar manner to the first set as NIU took a 7-2 lead over Buffalo. The Huskies took the lead at 3-2 on a block by Gogel and McCartney and never relinquished it in the set. Buffalo got within three at 13-16 before NIU ended the set on a 9-3 run. McCartney and Gogel teamed up for six of the Huskies 13 kills in the set as Gogel added three block assists in the set.
 
Heading into the decisive final set, Jordyn Tynsky (Denton, Texas/Denton-Guyer) reached the first tie score with a service ace at 2-2. The teams battled early, with four tie scores before Grevengoed got her first kill of the set. Following Grevengoed's kill, the Huskies went on a 5-2 run before a timeout was called at 12-8 with NIU ahead. McCartney had the final two kills of the night for the Huskies as they defeated the Bulls 15-10 in the final set.
 
The Huskies return to action on November 1 at 6 p.m. as they take on Buffalo in the final match of the series. Due to ICA Cheer competition taking place in the Convocation Center, fans are asked to park in lot C3 for the November 1 game against Buffalo.  
 
To purchase tickets, please click here or call the NIU Athletics Tickets Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).
 
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