Skip To Main Content

Northeastern University Athletics

Northeastern Huskies
Kamenova
Kevin Ahearn

Women's Volleyball

Northeastern defeats UConn in five-set barnburner

Northeastern defeats UConn in five-set barnburner
Box Score
Digital Media Guide

STORRS, Conn. -- The Northeastern volleyball team went the distance against Connecticut at the UConn Invitational on Friday night at Gampel Pavilion, winning three straight sets and upsetting tournament host in a 3-2 (23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-17, 15-7) victory.

Senior outside hitter Kelly Bacon notched her fourth double-double in five outings with a career-high 21 kills and 16 digs. Rookie Jamie Bredahl recorded her second season double-double, tallying 13 kills and 30 assists.

Junior Hanna Gibeau slammed down a season-high 14 kills alongside a pair of digs and blocks.

The Huskies accumulated a season-high 17 total blocks, anchored by middle blocker Alexa Armstrong who contributed nine in addition to 10 kills. Adding to NU's defensive efforts was libero Natalia Skiba who tallied a career-best 45 digs.

Fourth year setter Ina Kamenova led the team with 33 assists, also recording a pair of aces and six digs.

Immanuella Anagu led UConn's offensive efforts with 14 kills and eight total blocks, while Brianna Datti anchored the team's defense with 22 digs.

Northeastern jumped on the board first after Nichole Kurz landed a kill from the middle to kick off the set. After a strong offense duel, the Huskies gained a four-point advantage, 11-7, triggering Connecticut to take its first timeout of the set. UConn rebounded, landing back-to-back kills and closing the gap to within two.

A Connecticut kill and block tied up the set, 14-14, forcing head coach Ken Nichols to call for a breather. Immediately following the timeout, Armstrong recorded a kill briefly regaining Northeastern's lead. Both teams fought neck-and-neck until UConn landed an ace and a kill, taking a two-point lead, 21-19.

NU closed the gap to within one after a Bacon kill, giving UConn a late scare and forcing a last minute timeout. Connecticut landed a single swat to end the opening frame, 25-23.

The Huskies quickly took control in the second set, posting an early 8-4 lead after accumulating five kills, two aces and a block in the first 12 exchanges. Connecticut regained momentum, posting a 4-0 run and tying the set, 8-8.

Like the first set, both teams showcased a strong attack, battling offensively until a tie at the 17-point mark. The draw ended when UConn landed a pair of kills and regained the lead, 19-17.

Northeastern put up a fight to make for a close set, but Connecticut forced two errors to close the deal, 25-21.

UConn's momentum carried over into the third stanza to draw a quick 9-4 lead. The Huskies took over the lead, 15-14, after an Armstrong kill and a Cramp block. Simultaneous kills from the Huskies' attack forced UConn to call a timeout in a last-ditch effort to regain control, but NU responded with another slam from Armstrong.

Connecticut invaded the Huskies' cushion at the 22-20 mark, but it was not enough to stop Northeastern from claiming the third set, 25-20, after landing a trio of kills.

UConn declared early control to start the fourth frame, building an 11-5 lead thanks to eight kills and two blocks in the initial exchanges. The Huskies posted a 6-0 run, backed by a pair of Kurz blocks, to tie the set at the 11 mark. 

Northeastern landed three attacks, recording two insurance points and prompting UConn into its first huddle. The Huskies reacted with back-to-back blocks to take a 16-12 lead. NU held Connecticut to just five points for the remainder of the set and tied the contest, 2-2, with a 25-17 victory.

Northeastern controlled the deciding set and never looked back. Kills from both sides kept an even score until a block assist and a swat from the middle gave the Huskies a 7-4 advantage. UConn hailed for a timeout, but the break proved to be ineffective after Gibeau slammed down another ball on the following play.

Three simultaneous kills from Kurz, Bredahl and Bacon closed out the victory for the Huskies with a 15-7 triumph in the final frame.

The Huskies return to the Gampel Pavilion tomorrow afternoon for a match against Pittsburgh at 10:00 a.m. followed by a 5:00 p.m. matinee with Albany to round out the UConn Invitational.
Print Friendly Version