DeKALB, Ill.—Dropping a four-set battle inside Victor E. Court, the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team (11-13, 4-11 MAC) competed against the Ohio University Bobcats (12-15, 10-5 MAC). The Huskies posted set scores of 15-25, 25-21, 19-25, and 20-25.
 
Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) matched her career-best with nine blocks while Kylie Schulze (Wonder Lake, Ill./Woodstock North) set a new career-best with 33 assists.
 
"Their (Ohio's) offense is very efficient….and it a lot of good situations and it's tough to defend. They executed the situations well," said head coach Sondra D'Amore. "The goal tonight was 'how do we put pressure on them throughout the entire match. There are still glimpses of that grit from earlier in the season. We've grown a lot, and we are facing a top team. The goal is to play to our potential."
 
How It Happened
 
Emma McCartney (Cleveland, Ohio/Chadron) had the first kill of the evening for the Huskies as the Bobcats opened the first set on a 7-3 run. Alexa Hayes (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia West) was involved in back-to-back points for the Huskies as NIU got within two. Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) recorded three kills near the midway point of the set as the Huskies got within four at 14-10. Savannah Gogel (Santa Claus, Ind./Heritage Hills) had the final kill of the set for the Huskies as they dropped the opening set.
 
Grevengoed had the first kill of the second set for the Huskies as the Huskies and Bobcats traded points early. Alvin had four consecutive points, including three blocks, as the Huskies tied the set at nine. Schulze recorded her lone ace of the match as NIU went up 10-9. NIU kept the lead throughout the middle of the set before the Bobcats tied the game at 18. The Huskies and Bobcats traded points before a block by Alvin and Hayes gave the Huskies the lead for the final time. McCartney hit three consecutive aces to reach set point as an Alvin kill secured the set victory for NIU.
 
Alvin and Hayes continued to team up at the net, opening the third set with a block for the first point. McCartney recorded a pair of kills, as she recorded her fifth double-double of the season, as the Huskies fought to tie the set at 10. Grevengoed had a pair of kills as the Huskies tied the set two more times as the Huskies took a two-point lead at 16-14 on an attacking error. The final tie score came at 17 on a Huskies attacking error as the Bobcats scored three straight points. Hayes recorded the final two kills of the set for the Huskies as NIU fell 19-25.
 
An Alvin kill ended a 5-0 start by the Bobcats in the fourth set before Grevengoed added the second kill to make it 6-2. McCartney connected with Schulze for a kill bringing NIU within two at 10-8. Grevengoed ended a scoring run by the Bobcats with a kill as the Huskies trailed by five late in the set. McCartney had the final two kills of the night for the Huskies as they fell 25-20 in the fourth set.
 
The Huskies will conclude action at home on November 8 at 4 p.m. against Ohio for Senior Night. The Huskies will honor the senior class prior to the game. Join Terry Bonadonna and Sam Grams, NIU '12, on the call on Saturday night on ESPN+.
 
To purchase tickets, please click here or call the NIU Athletics Tickets Office at 815-753-PACK (7225).
 
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