After Northern Illinois grabbed the first two games by comfortable margins, the Huskies looked like they would cruise to their 10th straight volleyball victory by beating Illinois State Tuesday. But the Redbirds turned that cruise into a rough ride before the Huskies finally prevailed in five games 30-22, 30-21, 22-30, 27-30, 15-13.
Tera Lobdell led the Huskies with 25 kills, including the final one to close out the match. Tenisha Wilkins had 17 kills and 16 digs for the Huskies, who out-hit the 'Birds .240 to .206, had 23 more kills, 16 more digs and the same number of blocks (11).
Redbird coach Sharon Dingman praised her team's poise and persistence.
"We're always disappointed to lose, but, at the same time, we have to be proud of how we played," said Dingman, whose team fell to 11-8. "We got out-played in every straistical category tonight and still took the fifth gmae to 15-13. Guts and heart aren't on the stat sheet."
Erin Jones led ISU with 14 kills and 14 digs. Abby Lewis added 11 kills and 15 digs, while Beky Weber fell just one dig shy of a triple-double with 10 kills, 45 set assists and 9 digs.
NIU hit .441 in game one and .422 in game two with Lobdell banking 15 kills in the first two games. Weber's serving started ISU in game three with four straight points, including back-to-back blocks from Lewis and Staci Boyce, who had seven for the match.
That started a comeback which had the 'Birds holding NIU under .160 hitting in each of the final three games. ISU scored with service aces, on blocks and simply by staying tough, according to Dingman, who wanted her team to start seven road matches in its final 10 regular-season contests on the right foot.
"This team showed resolve on the road and that's something we haven't seen on the road this year," said Dingman, whose team is 2-7 away from Redbird Arena. "We were a different team (tonight) than we have been on the road. I feel good about what happened tonight even though we lost."
ISU was not only down after game two, but, after leading 17-16 in that second game, were out-scored 14-5 the rest of the way.
A fast start in game three helped ISU stave off NIU challenges later. This time, ISU led 16-15 and went on a 9-1 run which featured a Weber service ace and a pair of kills from the Redbird setter. NIU led 4-0 in game four, but ISU pulled even at 26-26 with the help of three kills by Megan Stephenson, who had 7 kills coming off the bench.
Lewis drilled a cross-court kill to put ISU ahead 27-26 and Stephenson followed by scoring on a quick-set kill in the middle as ISU pulled even in the match.
With the help of strong defense and a couple of well-placed shots, NIU went out to a 12-6 lead in game five, but the 'Birds werent finished. Stephenson had a kill, then served three more points as ISU pulled within 13-12, then 14-13 on Lewis' final kill before Lobdell had the match-clincher.
The Redbirds continue their road tour Friday at Southern Illinois and Saturday at Evansville, both Missouri Valley Conference matches.
