Box Score

BOSTON—Reigning CAA Player of the Year Kelly Bacon recorded a career-high 24 kills to lead the Northeastern volleyball team to a 3-1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-19, 27-25) victory over St. John's on Sunday afternoon at Cabot Center.

In addition to kills, Bacon added 12 digs and three blocks during the contest to notch her third double-double of the weekend. Senior outside hitter Hanna Gibeau turned in another big offensive performance, totaling 14 kills on 40 swings along with nine digs and a service ace. Middle blockers Nichole Kurz and Alexa Armstrong tallied 12 kills and seven blocks in a combined effort at the net.

Natalia Skiba manned the backcourt with a match-best 19 digs while veteran setter Ina Kamenova contributed a double-double show with 27 assists and 12 digs.

Northeastern took the board first after forcing an offensive error on St. John's, but two attacking errors and a Red Storm ace forced head coach Ken Nichols to call for an early timeout, trailing 7-4.

Bacon returned from the huddle and landed a cross-court kill, but it was not enough to slow down St. John's early momentum. The Red Storm used an 8-3 run to build a substantial lead and prompt another Northeastern timeout, 16-7. Four St. John's errors and a Bacon attack invaded the Red Storm's cushion, closing the gap to within five.

The Huskies rallied down the stretch, putting up five kills and an ace to close the gap to just a single point, 24-23. Unfortunately for NU, it was not enough to prevent the Red Storm from closing the first set, 25-23.

Northeastern kicked off the second set with three consecutive swings to post a quick 5-1 advantage. The two teams entered an offensive duel in the core of the set, but Northeastern maintained the lead. St. John's recorded a swat from the outside and pressured two NU errors to even the score at 17, provoking Nichols to break for a timeout.

The Huskies returned to the court and never looked back. Gibeau threw down three back-to-back kills to even the match, 1-1.

Bacon marked the board first after a line-drive attack from the outside to begin the third set. Both teams showcased strong offensive performances, recording eight total kills in the next 12 exchanges. Trailing 10-6, the Red Storm hailed for a timeout, but it was not enough to regain the lead. The Huskies increased the margin to five, setting an 18-13 mark and leaving St. John's no option but to exhaust another timeout.

Regaining composure, the Red Storm closed in on Northeastern's lead after Aleksandra Wachowicz landed two kills and forced a Bacon error. Unshaken, the Huskies utilized a 7-5 run to seal the deal, 25-19.

The fourth set delivered a lot more back-and-forth action, especially in the beginning where the two squads traded points all the way down to the 10-10 mark. A Red Storm ace and an error from Bredahl put St. John's ahead, 12-10, pressing Nichols to burn a timeout. 

Still behind by two, Bacon and Gibeau teamed up for a pair of kills to knot it up again, 17-17.  Northeastern took the lead, 19-18, after two St. John's offensive slips and never looked back.

NU closed out the fourth set, 27-25, capped by a Bacon and Bredahl kill, to clinch the match, 3-1.

The Huskies continue their home stand when they open up their CAA schedule against College of Charleston on Friday, Sept. 27 at Cabot Center. Fans can follow the contest live at GoNU.com/GoNUxstream along with twitter updates at @GoNUwvolleyball.

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