YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio— Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) led the Northern Illinois University volleyball team with eight kills in a straight-set loss to Youngstown State. The Huskies (7-12, 1-8 Horizon) fell 25-19, 25-16, 25-19 to the Penguins (10-10, 6-3 Horizon).
Viktoria Djukic (Podgorica, Montenegro) recorded her third double-double of the season with 16 assists and 13 digs.
Katie Pahl (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) and
Charlotte Gramzow (Royal Oak, Mich./Lutheran Northwest) combined for four of NIU's six service aces.
Autumn Flynn (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) recorded NIU's first kill as Youngstown State took an early 6-2 lead. Pahl followed with a kill and a service ace to cut the deficit to two. The Penguins then used a 9-5 run to extend their lead to 15-9, with Flynn recording NIU's lone kill during the stretch. A kill by
Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) sparked a late 4-2 run by the Huskies, but Youngstown State took the first set 25-19.
Grevengoed and Alvin recorded the first two kills of the second set before a 6-2 Penguins run gave them a 9-4 lead. NIU kept pace, with a Pahl kill making it 14-9. Grevengoed added two late kills, and Gramzow recorded a service ace, but Youngstown State held on for a 25-16 win.
Alvin opened the third set with a kill, and Gramzow's service ace tied the score at 2. Flynn added a kill and a solo block as the teams traded points through the opening stretch. Following a Grevengoed kill, the Penguins maintained a one-point lead. Flynn's kill made it 12-11, the closest NIU came to taking the lead, before Youngstown State pulled away with an 8-5 run. Pahl and
Naomi Dowd (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) recorded NIU's final two kills as the Penguins closed out the match with a 25-19 third-set win.
The Huskies continue action against the Penguins on Oct. 24. First serve is set for 1 p.m. CT in Youngstown, Ohio.
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