Women's Volleyball Falls to Northern Illinois

DeKalb, Ill. – The Merrimack College women's volleyball team opened a three-game tournament on Friday with a matchup against host Northern Illinois. The Warriors dropped the tournament opener, falling 3-0 to the Huskies.

The Basics
Score: Merrimack 0, Northern Illinois 3
Records: Merrimack (1-2), Northern Illinois (3-1)

How It Happened 
The opening set began as a tightly contested race for the lead. With the help of a kill from Morgan Thurlow, the Warriors jumped out to a 6-4 advantage. The Huskies responded, capitalizing on Merrimack errors to regain control. Trailing midway through the set, Ella Gizmunt tallied three kills to keep the Warriors within striking distance. Merrimack put together a timely run to stay within one point, but Northern Illinois surged ahead late to take the first set.

The second set followed a similar back-and-forth pattern. Early on, Aubrey Baker recorded a kill and a block assist to help keep the Huskies' lead in check. A handful of Warrior kills kept them competitive, but Northern Illinois extended its lead midway through the set. Mckenna Shotwell sparked a 5-2 run with two kills and a block assist, cutting the deficit to three. Despite the push, the Huskies closed strong to secure the second set.

The Warriors came out strong in the third set, capitalizing on Husky errors and spreading kills across three different players to build an early lead. Jocelyn Hammerstrand and Thurlow each added a block assist and a kill to put Merrimack ahead 9-7. Northern Illinois responded with key defensive blocks, stalling Merrimack's momentum. With the match on the line, the Warriors battled back, using kills from four players to pull within two. Baker tied the set at 22-22 with her team-leading sixth kill of the day, but the Huskies closed out the frame to complete the sweep.

Stats and Facts 

• Aubrey Baker and Morgan Thurlow led the way with six kills and three block assists apiece.
• Mckenna Shotwell finished with five kills, one solo block, and a team-high 14 digs.
• Sophia DeBonis totaled 12 assists, while Lilly Konrad added 10.

Up Next
The Warriors continue tournament play in Illinois on Saturday, taking on Southern Illinois Edwardsville at 11 a.m. CT and Indiana State at 2:30 p.m. CT.