Volleyball Drops MAC Opener to NIU

Box score.

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Eastern Michigan University volleyball team struggled in the 2006 Mid-American Conference opener, falling 3-1 to Northern Illinois University here Friday night at the EMU Convocation Center. The setback was just EMU's 11th home loss in the last six years and snapped the squad's eight-match winning steak in conference lidlifters dating back to the 1998 campaign.

Senior middle blocker Lindsay Piccolini led the way with a career-best 25 kills and a .365 attack percentage. Piccolini's previous best of 23 came earlier this season against Texas Tech, Aug. 26. Two other Eagles reached double figures in kills as junior middle blocker Becky Reenders tallied 14 kills and four block assists and freshman outside hitter Victoria Randolph recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 18 digs. Senior libero Ashley Cudney posted 21 digs in the setback, while junior setter Kate Sulewski chipped in 58 assists.

For Northern Illinois, Kate McCullagh paced the attack with 23 kills and two block assists. Meagan Schoenrock recorded 14 kills as Mandi Caputo turned in a double-double with 51 set assists and 14 digs.

The Eagles opened the match in impressive fashion, racing out to an early 8-1 lead. The EMU advantage hovered around seven points but the momentum was beginning to swing in the favor of the Huskies. NIU was able to pull within a pair, 20-18, thanks en part to an 8-3 run. Eastern was never able to put the game out of reach but was still able to take the first set by a score of 30-27.

In the second game the teams exchanged points with neither side able to take a lead more than three until just past the midway point. With the score tied at 19, NIU tallied three quick points to take a 21-19 edge and force EMU head coach Kim Berrington to burn a time-out. However, it was too late as the Huskies would never relinquish the lead to tie the match at 1-1 with a 30-27 decision.

Game three belonged to the Cardinal and Black. NIU rolled off 11 quick points to take a 11-3 advantage. Eastern would never challenge as the Huskies sealed the 2-1 match lead with a 30-20 victory. EMU’s Piccolini tallied six kills for the game, while NIU was paced by McCullagh with five kills.

In the finale, Northern moved out to a quick 5-3 lead and continued to battle as EMU would not let the game get out of reach. Trailing by a slim two-points at 18-16, EMU would rattle off three-straight points to claim its first lead in the fourth game, 19-18. The two teams would exchange points and leads, but it was the visitors from DeKalb who went on a 12-9 run to claim game four, 30-28.

Statistically the Huskies and Eagles were on near-even ground as Northern hit .226 (64 kills, 22 errors, 186 attempts) and Eastern Michigan averaged .178 (69 kills, 35 errors, 191 attempts). Eastern added six blocks with NIU recording four.

The Eagles continue their homestand tomorrow afternoon, Sept. 23, as instate rival Western Michigan University invades the Convocation Center. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

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