KENT, Ohio- Going the distance in a five-set thriller, the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team (12-14, 5-12 MAC) won the first of two games against the Kent State University Golden Flashes (8-20, 3-14 MAC) on Friday (November 14). The Huskies and Golden Flashes posted set scores of 14-25, 25-21, 27-25, 23-25, and 15-12
 
Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) recorded her third consecutive match with nine blocks, matching her career best for the fourth time this season.
 
Emma McCartney (Cleveland, Ohio/Chadron), Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West), and Kylie Schuzle (Wonder Lake, Ill./Woodstock North) all recorded double-doubles in this evening's contest. Schulze set a new career-best with two service aces while McCartney's 19 digs were a career mark for the sophomore.
 
Naomi Dowd (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) had a career night with 14 kills while Savannah Gogel (Santa Claus, Ind./Heritage Hills) matched her career-best in blocks with five. Autumn Flynn (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) was the final Huskie to set a new career mark, setting her mark with five digs.
 
"There were a lot of ups and downs throughout the match, but this team continued to never give up. Which is something that they have done all season. To be able to see a win come that effort, especially on the road was a proud moment for the team," said head coach Sondra D'Amore. "We came back from big deficits (and) beat a team in five. And did it on the road in conference. All things we've been working hard for all year. The goal (tomorrow) is to repeat that belief and finish the season with a win."
 
How It Happened
 
Alvin and McCartney teamed up for a block for the Huskies first points of the night. Flynn had the first kill as the Golden Flashes took an early five-point lead at 9-4. Following the early timeout, the Huskies went on a 6-2 run which featured a pair of kills from McCartney to come within one at 11-10. The Golden Flashes offense went on a 14-4 run, with Gogel recording the final two kills of the set as Kent State took a one-set lead over the Huskies.
 
In a close battle early in the second, Flynn recorded a kill followed by a block with McCartney to tie the set at three. Kent State would build their lead out to three at 11-8 before McCartney answered with a kill. Following an attacking error, Flynn capitalized on Schulze to start an 8-0 run for the Huskies and a 17-13 lead. The teams continued to battle, tying the set three times before an attacking error by the Golden Flashes gave NIU a 20-19 lead. Dowd had two kills as the Huskies ended the second set on a 5-2 run.
 
McCartney, who was one of two Huskies to record 14 kills, had the first two kills of the third set for the Huskies. A kill from Flynn put the Huskies within one before Kent State went on a 10-2 run late. Alvin and McCartney teamed up for a block as the Huskies and Golden Flashes traded points as Kent State held a nine-point lead at 21-12 late in the set. Alvin recorded a late kill to start NIU on a 12-1 run as the Huskies came from behind to reach set point at 24-22. Kent State reached set point at 25-24 before Gogel started NIU on a 3-0 run to secure the win in extra points.
 
McCartney's lone ace of the match tied the fourth set at four with the teams trading points early. The Golden Flashes offense went on an 8-4 run that saw three different Huskies record kills before a timeout was called a 12-8. Following the timeout, Grevengoed had three kills in a 9-7 run for the Huskies that brought the set within two at 19-17. The late offense charge by the Huskies fell short as the teams matched each other point-for-point with Kent State taking the fourth set to set the match to five.
 
Dowd had two early kills in the fifth and final set as NIU took an quick 3-2 lead. Kent State went on a 5-1 run before Alvin and Flynn had back-to-back kills for the Huskies to bring the game back within one at 7-6. The set would be tied five more tie scores before Grevengoed and Dowd consecutive kills to take the lead for the final time. Dowd recorded the final kill of the set as the Huskies had a hitting percentage of .250 in the fifth set.
 
The Huskies and Golden Flashes will conclude the series on November 15 at 3 p.m. CT in Kent, Ohio.
 
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