DeKALB, Ill.— Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) recorded a team-high 10 kills as the Northern Illinois University volleyball team fell to Milwaukee in straight sets Thursday evening (Oct. 15) at Victor E. Court. The Huskies (7-10, 1-6 Horizon League) dropped their fourth consecutive match, falling to the Panthers (8-12, 3-5 Horizon League) by scores of 25-14, 25-16 and 25-22.
Charlotte Gramzow (Royal Oak, Mich./Lutheran Northwest) matched her career high with two service aces as NIU recorded four aces in the match.
Delaney Steers (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) recorded the Huskies' first kill of the night before a block by Grevengoed and
Autumn Flynn (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) tied the opening set at 5-5.
Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) added two early kills to keep NIU within one point before
Katie Pahl (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) recorded a kill to tie the set for the final time. Milwaukee then used a 7-1 run, which Steers ended with a kill, before scoring four consecutive points to take a 19-10 lead. Flynn recorded two of NIU's final four kills of the set, but the Panthers claimed the opening set, 25-14.
Grevengoed opened the second set with two kills to help NIU tie the score at 5-5. Pahl added a kill to pull the Huskies within one at 12-11, but Milwaukee responded with three consecutive points. The Panthers continued to apply offensive pressure, extending their lead to 21-13 before Grevengoed ended the run with a kill. Milwaukee closed out the set by outscoring NIU 4-2, taking the second set 25-16.
Grevengoed opened the third set with a service ace, while Pahl and Flynn combined for three kills to spark the Huskies' offense. Milwaukee responded with an 8-2 run that ended with a service error, followed by a service ace from
Kylie Schulze (Wonder Lake, Ill./Woodstock North). Schulze's ace sparked an 8-3 NIU run that featured a pair of service aces from Gramzow, tying the set at 15-15. The teams battled through two more ties before Milwaukee scored four consecutive points to take control. Grevengoed recorded NIU's final three kills, but Milwaukee closed out the set 25-22 to secure the straight-set victory.
NIU returns to action tomorrow night (Oct. 16) as they travel to Green Bay. First serve is set for 6 p.m. in the Kress Center, located on Green Bay's campus.
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