Women's Volleyball | October 6

DeKALB, Ill. — The Northern Illinois Huskies volleyball team (9-4, 2-2 MAC) continues conference play this week, hosting Western Michigan (6-11, 3-1 MAC) at home in DeKalb on Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. CT, before traveling to face Bowling Green (10-6, 4-0 MAC) in a two-match road series Oct. 9–10. Both games against the Falcons are set for 5 p.m. CT, with all matches streaming live on ESPN+.
 
It's "Tiki in the VEC" on October 7 as fans are encouraged to wear their best tropical attire and cheer on the Huskies. To purchase tickets, please click here or call the NIU Athletics Tickets Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).
 
Previewing the Broncos
 
The Broncos have gone 3-1 in MAC play, with all games going four or more sets. The Broncos lone loss came via Ball State, dropping the contest on October 3, 3-1 loss in Muncie, Indiana.
 
Annalise Patchett and Mary Clare Brusek lead the Broncos with 2.73 and 2.67 kills per set. The duo has combined for over 343 kills this season.
 
Elana Erickson is leading the defensive efforts with 4.75 digs per set while Brown leads the team with 57 blocks this season.
 
Western Michigan took both games last season and holds a 38-32 record over NIU.
 
Facing Off Against the Falcons
 
Bowling Green has gone undefeated in conference play as they host the Huskies for a pair of games to end the week.
 
Lauryn Hovey leads the team with 3.93 kills per set and is joined by Avery Hobson (3.40 per set) and Marin Dunaway (3.00) in kills per set. With 21 aces, Hovey has the most aces this season of any Falcons player.
 
Defensively, Sydnie Hernandez leads the team with 3.66 digs per set, a total of 223 this season.
 
Despite forcing extra points in two sets, NIU dropped both matches a season ago. However, NIU leads the series 27-20. 
 
At the Top of the Pack
 
Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) leads the Huskies in kills with 157 this season, averaging 2.96 per set. Trailing close behind is Emma McCartney (Cleveland, Ohio/Chardon) with 2.90 kills per set, a total of 148 this season.
 
Serving has been one of the Huskies strengths this season as they are led by Jordyn Tynsky (Denton, Texas/Denton Guyer) and Autumn Flynn (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) with a combined 40 aces.
 
With 280 aces this season, sophomore Ella Strausberger (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) is just 117 assists away from surpassing the 1,000-career assist mark.
 
Last Time in Action
 
The Huskies dropped a pair of games last week to Miami and Ball State in straight sets.
 
Grevengoed led the Huskies with 15 kills while McCartney had 10 kills. Grevengoed also led the Huskies with three aces while Flynn and Tynsky had a pair each. Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) had five blocks on the week to lead NIU.
 
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