DeKALB, Ill.— Viktoria Djukic (Podgorica, Montenegro) recorded her third consecutive double-double as the Northern Illinois University volleyball team fell to Robert Morris University, 3-0. The match featured 29 tie scores and 17 lead changes as the Huskies (7-14, 1-10 Horizon League) dropped the match by scores of 25-23, 26-24 and 25-22.
Katie Pahl (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) recorded her second consecutive double-double of the season with 11 kills for the Huskies.
Autumn Flynn (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) led all players with 12 kills, while
Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) added 11 kills for her 14th double-digit kill performance of the season.
After an early back-and-forth battle, a Flynn kill sparked a 6-2 run to give NIU an 8-5 lead. The Colonials fought back to within one, but the Huskies maintained a two-point advantage until an error tied the set at 12. A block by
Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) sparked four consecutive points for NIU, giving the Huskies a 20-18 lead late in the set. Robert Morris tied the score at 22 before a Pahl kill put NIU ahead 23-22. The Colonials then scored the final three points to take the opening set, 25-23.
Pahl opened the second set with three kills for the Huskies before a Flynn kill tied the score at 6. Alvin added a kill to spark a 5-2 NIU run, but the Colonials battled back to tie the set at 11. Kills from Flynn and Pahl helped NIU stay within striking distance as Robert Morris used an 8-4 run to take a 19-16 lead. The Huskies responded with a run of their own to take a 20-19 advantage, with three more ties following before the finish. Despite late kills from Pahl and Flynn, Robert Morris claimed the second set, 26-24.
Kiana Shields (West Chicago, Ill./Wheaton Academy) was one of three Huskies to record a kill during NIU's three consecutive opening points in the third set. Flynn added two more kills as the Huskies answered each Robert Morris point, maintaining a three-point advantage early in the set. The Colonials continued to battle back, taking a 12-11 lead near the midway point. Consecutive kills from Flynn and Grevengoed helped NIU regain the advantage at 17-16 during a 6-4 run. Robert Morris tied the set at 18 before scoring five consecutive points to build its largest lead of the match. Flynn recorded the final kill for the Huskies, while Alvin and Djukic combined for a late block as NIU fell 25-22.
The Huskies return to action Oct. 31 as they take on Robert Morris at 2 p.m. to conclude the regular-season series. Conor Clingen will provide play-by-play coverage on ESPN+, joined by Lynnette Summins.
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