Tarleton State Volleyball drops heartbreaker to NIU in five sets

ST. Paul, Minn. - Tarleton State Volleyball was defeated by Northern Illinois in a tightly-contested five-set match 3-2 on Friday in the Texans' second match of the Tommie Invitational.

Four Tarleton State players recorded double-digit kills ( - 19, - 13, - 11, - 10). A quad of Texans had at least 12 digs on Friday ( - 19, - 14, - 14, - 12).

Junior setter finished with a double-double of 14 digs and a season-high 48 assists. Her 48 assists equaled her Division I Era record for most assists in a single match by a Tarleton State player (Aug. 30 vs. Arkansas-Little Rock).

Trading kills through the first four points, Tarleton State went on a quick 5-0 scoring run to take control of the first set. A service ace from Ava Grevengoed and a pair of kills from gave Tarleton State an eight-point advantage.

Bryant capitalized off a Northern Illinois attack error by coming up with another kill to put the Texans ahead by double-digits. Using 14 kills and hitting .423 in the opening set, Tarleton State dominated its way to clinch the first set 25-18.

After the Texans tied the second set 5-5, Northern Illinois rallied four straight points to take the early lead. A kill from cut the deficit to one point, but the Huskies answered back with four straight points to stretch their lead. Northern Illinois held Tarleton State to just a .167 hitting percentage and won set two 25-18.

Northern Illinois took a four-point lead late in set three, but back-to-back kills from Burke allowed the Texans to pull the deficit to one point. Kills from Burke and to go with a Northern Illinois attack error allowed Tarleton State to tie the set.

A service error allowed the Huskies to reclaim the advantage, but the Texans answered the bell by scoring three out of the next four points to come up with the lead once again. Back-to-back Tarleton State blocks forced Northern Illinois into a pair of attack errors, giving the Texans a 25-23 victory in set three.

Both teams went back-and-forth in set four, with action being tied 18-18 late in the set. Northern Illinois, however, scored four consecutive points and clinched six of the final eight points to take set four 25-20.

Northern Illinois took a four-point lead in the closing action of the final set, but two consecutive kills from the Texans allowed Tarleton State to stay alive. The Huskies collected the final two kills of the match to seal the win.

Tarleton State wraps up the Tommie Invitational with a match against Valparaiso Saturday at 11 a.m.

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