DeKALB, Ill.—Sweeping action in their home opener, the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team defeated Merrimack College and Indiana State University on the first day of the NIU Invitational, held inside the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies defeated Merrimack in straight sets (25-17, 25-16, 25-22) before battling against Indiana State in a five-set thriller (25-16, 23-25, 25-18, 14-25, 15-11).
Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) and Emma McCartney (Cleveland, Ohio/Chadron) led the Huskies with 14 kills each in the Huskies sweep over the Warriors of Merrimack.
In the game against the Sycamores of Indiana State, Alexa Hayes (Magnolia, Tex./Magnolia West) and Autumn Flynn (New Franken, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) led the team with 13 kills, season-highs for both.
Ella Strausberger (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) matched her career-best of four service aces in the second game of the day while Kylie Schulze (Wonder Lake, Ill./Woodstock North) set a new career-best in assists against Indiana State.
"This team has grit and battled back after getting down in the fifth set early," noted head coach Sondra D'Amore. "Their connections with each other and the support from the bench are visible in the gym and on the court."
Merrimack Recap (NIU 3, Merrimack 0)
NIU and Merrimack traded points early, but a kill from Hayes sparked a 4-1 NIU run for an 11-9 lead. Merrimack closed the gap to 16-15 before Grevengoed reignited the Huskies' offense, tallying four kills as NIU's defense held strong to take the set 25-17.
NIU jumped ahead 7-5 with contributions from three different players and built their biggest lead at 17-10 after a Grevengoed kill. Merrimack rallied with a 5-1 run to close the gap to 18-15, but a service ace from Jordyn Tynsky (Denton, Tex./Denton-Guyer) and late kills from Flynn, McCartney, and Eva Finnessy (Pewaukee, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) helped NIU close out the second set 25-16.
Looking to sweep for the first time this season, NIU's first points of the final set came from a Tynsky ace and McCartney kill. The Huskies and Warriors traded points early, as neither team gained more than a two-point advantage. Grevengoed sparked the Huskies offense as a kill tied the game at 13. The Huskies had four unanswered points as they built a 17-13 lead on a block from Flynn and Hayes. The Warriors battled against the Huskie defense, tying the game late at 21. The game would be tied for a final time at 22 before a McCartney kill sealed the Huskies victory.
Indiana State Recap (NIU 3, Indiana State 2)
Indiana State jumped out to a 3-0 lead against the Huskies in the final game of the day with Flynn recording the lone early kill for the Huskies. Strausberger recorded her first service ace of the contest, capping a 5-0 run by the Huskies to force a timeout at 7-4. After trading points, Flynn put the Huskies up by eight at 14-6 with a service ace. Errors continued to plague Indiana State as they recorded seven in the first set. A Schulze service ace put NIU up by 12 at 20-8. The Huskies' offense, which was hitting at .245, kept the pressure on as they took the first set 25-15.
Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) and Finnessy had the first block of the second set for the Huskies and a 3-2 lead. The teams traded points throughout the set before a pair of service aces by the Sycamores gave them a 14-11 lead over NIU. Alvin recorded two kills to put NIU back within one before Grevengoed tied the game at 17 with a kill. The Sycamores ended the set on a 6-3 run to even the match.
A pair of kills and a service ace were how NIU started the third set. Flynn had three of the Huskies first four kills as NIU took a 6-4 lead. Alvin, who matched her career-best in blocks, recorded back-to-back blocks as NIU took an 11-7 lead over the Sycamores. A McCartney kill late in game put NIU up by six before a Delaney Steers (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) ace gave NIU their largest lead at 20-13. Grevengoed had a pair of kills in the final points as NIU took a two-set lead.
Grevengoed ended an 8-0 run by the Sycamores to start the fourth set with a kill. The Sycamores recorded 16 kills in the fourth set to just six for the Huskies as NIU struggled offensively. Flynn, who had three kills in the set, recorded the final Huskie kill at 19-13 as the Sycamores ended the set on a 6-1 run.
In the deciding set, NIU's first point came from a block by Naomi Dowd (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and Flynn, followed by a Hayes kill. After Indiana State's 4-0 run, McCartney sparked a Huskies response with four straight points for a 6-4 lead. The Sycamores briefly led 7-6 before Strausberger set up Hayes for the equalizer. Hayes added two more kills as NIU pulled ahead and held on for a 15-11 victory.
The Huskies will conclude action at the NIU Invitational on September 6 at 6 p.m. against the SIUE Cougars.
New and returning fans can purchase general admission, family 4-pack, or courtside seats to watch the Huskies this fall with general admission tickets starting at just $35. The Family 4-Pack is available for $90 ($22.50 each). Courtside seats are priced at $180 for the season. To purchase tickets online, please click here.
