Box Score WILMINGTON, N.C. – Behind a career-high 24 kills from reigning CAA Player of the Year Kelly Bacon, the Northeastern women's volleyball team defeated UNC Wilmington, 3-2, in a five-set thriller on Friday night in Wilmington, N.C. With the win, the Huskies advance to 16-9 on the season and hold an 8-3 conference record.

Bacon notched her 16th double-double of the season, tying a career-high 24 kills and adding 16 digs to the Huskies defense. Rookie Jamie Bredahl recorded her fifth triple-double of the year with 14 kills, 11 digs and a match-best 35 assists. Senior middle Nichole Kurz posted a strong offensive performance after landing 12 kills on 22 swings for a .409 hitting percentage. Right side Ava Cramp tied a season-best eight kills and added four total blocks on the night.

Libero Natalia Skiba anchored Northeastern's defense with a match-high 23 digs while fourth-year setter Ina Kamenova threw up 31 assists and six digs.

The Huskies were strong out of the chute as they posted a quick 4-1 start to kick off the night. Northeastern maintained at least a two-point advantage through the early goings, but UNCW tied the set, 14-14, after back-to-back kills. The teams exchanged points down the stretch until a Bredahl kills gave NU the momentum to go ahead, 22-21. Despite landing two kills in the final points, the Seahawks could not stop the Huskies from taking the first set, 25-23.

UNC Wilmington came out fighting in the second frame, recording an early 5-2 advantage. Northeastern worked its way back into the contest after three consecutive attacks knotted the score, 9-9. Even at the 14 mark, UNCW used a 6-1 run to build a five point cushion and force the Huskies to burn a timeout, trailing 20-15. Bacon responded from the break with a huge outside swing, but a kill from the Seahawk's Morgan Kline closed out the second set, 25-20 for UNCW.

The third set was a back-and-forth battle the majority of the way as both teams showcased strong offensive performances. The match was tied seven times throughout, but the final even score came at 16-16. The Seahawks drew their final lead after breaking away, 21-17, with two swats from the outside, bookending a double-block. Bredahl and Alexa Armstrong teamed up for a couple of kills, but it was not enough to stop UNCW from taking control of the match, 2-1, after a 25-21 third-set victory.

Looking to stay alive, Northeastern landed four kills for a 4-1 lead and continued the momentum to go ahead by five, 10-5. The Seahawks brought the score to within two, 14-12, but NU maintained the lead the rest of the way. A Bacon kill sealed the deal in the fourth stanza for the Huskies, 25-21.

The eliminating set continued with even play throughout the entire frame. The Huskies collected a small three-point lead, 7-4, in the early goings, but UNCW stuffed two attacks to slow the Huskies offense and even the score, 8-8. The Seahawks and NU swapped control throughout the score of the set, knotting it up once again, 15-15. Needing to win by two points, Bredahl landed a right-side kill, but UNCW tossed down one of their own. Neither team surrendered as they drew the score to 20, but a Seahawk service error and a Kurz kill gave Northeastern the two point advantage needed to close out the five-set battle with a 22-20 victory in the eliminating set.

The Huskies will compete in their final regular season road game when they take on top-ranked College of Charleston on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m.

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