GARY, Ind. — Indiana University Northwest volleyball split a pair of five-set matches Friday at home, falling to Huntington (Ind.) in the opener before battling back to beat Northwestern Ohio in the nightcap. The RedHawks improved to 10-5 overall and remain 5-2 in CCAC play.
Game 1: Huntington outlasts RedHawks in five
IU Northwest stayed within reach of Huntington early in the first set behind Gabi Lilovich and Raniyah Preston, but Maggie Hollon took over for the Foresters, stringing together a decisive run that the RedHawks couldn't answer. Huntington closed out the set, 25-17.
Huntington carried that momentum into the second, building a cushion that IU Northwest tried to close late behind Lilovich, who delivered a pair of service aces down the stretch. It wasn't enough, and Huntington took the set 25-20 to move ahead 2-0 in the match.
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Facing elimination, the RedHawks dug in during the third. Preston opened with back-to-back kills, and IU Northwest traded points with Huntington deep into the set before pulling away late behind Trinitie Lintner and Amie Schutz, escaping with a 29-27 win to stay alive.
IU Northwest carried the energy into the fourth, with Lilovich and Kaelan Murphy combining for key kills to build an edge. The RedHawks closed out the set 25-20 to force a decisive fifth.
Huntington proved too much in the finale, with the Foresters jumping ahead early and holding on behind a balanced attack. IU Northwest couldn't complete the comeback, falling 15-8 to drop the match, 3-2.
Lilovich led the RedHawks with 12 kills and 16.5 points, while Lintner hit .227 with seven kills and five assisted blocks. Preston added nine kills, 24 assists and 10.5 points.
Game 2: RedHawks rally past Northwestern Ohio
IU Northwest opened strong against Northwestern Ohio, with Amie Schutz firing off early kills to help the RedHawks build a lead. Northwestern Ohio answered down the stretch, but IU Northwest held on for a 25-19 win to take the opener.
Northwestern Ohio flipped the script in the second, riding a big service run from Riley Treece to pull away for a 25-10 win, and carried that momentum into the third, closing it out 25-16 to take a 2-1 match lead.
Facing a similar must-win spot as earlier in the day, the RedHawks answered. Preston caught fire from the service line in the fourth, stringing together consecutive aces to help IU Northwest build separation, and Schutz and Murphy finished the job, closing out a 25-19 win to force a fifth set.
IU Northwest took control in the decider, trading points early before Lilovich and Schutz pulled the RedHawks ahead for good. IU Northwest closed out the match with a 15-10 win to complete the day's rally.
Schutz led all players with 15 kills and a match-high 17.0 points, while Lilovich added 12 kills, 19 assists and 14.0 points. Murphy chipped in nine kills, and Preston recorded 30 assists, four service aces and 7.5 points.
