📹 | @GoNUwvolleyball head coach Caitlin Schweihofer provides her reaction to Sunday's match against James Madison. #HowlinHuskies pic.twitter.com/hMhQaT30Gk

— Northeastern Volleyball (@GoNUwvolleyball) November 17, 2019

BOSTON – Powered by Athena Ardila and Erica Staunton's 16-kill outings on Sunday, the Northeastern women's volleyball team challenged second-place James Madison at Cabot Center, despite receiving the four-set defeat on Senior Day (28-26, 14-25, 25-22, 25-23).
 
Staunton's 16 kills were earned on 28 attacks as the freshman paced NU in hitting percentage (.500), achieving the second highest mark of her rookie season. Ardila extended her double-digit kills streak to nine consecutive matches and notched her sixth double-double of the year, adding 10 digs and two aces to her tally.
 
Northeastern (15-13, 9-7 CAA) sported the 57-45 advantage in total kills and 58-44 edge in total digs, but committed a season high, 16 service errors. Samantha Shupe racked up 45 assists, 13 digs, two aces and two blocks for the Huskies while Natalie Shollin logged 11 kills, seven digs and four aces.
 
James Madison (19-7, 13-3 CAA) won the blocking battle, 10-4, hitting above .320 during each of its winning sets.
 
Back-to-back kills by Shollin helped NU turn its 20-17 first-set deficit into a 21-20 lead. Although the Dukes would manage to pull ahead at 23-22, the Huskies saved three set points before surrendering the opener to a Caroline Dozier ace.
 
Northeastern fired at a .391 hitting clip during its dominant second-set victory, receiving six kills from Staunton to level the match at one set apiece.
 
NU turned in separate four-point scoring runs during the third set to tie JMU at 12-12 and 17-17. Ardila sent over an ace that brought the Huskies within a point at 23-22, but the Dukes shut the door with one of Sophia Davis's team high, 12 kills, plus a set-clinching block by Sarah Martin and M'Kaela White.
 
With James Madison out to the 21-13 fourth-set lead, Northeastern made a 10-3 run at the Dukes to close the margin to 24-23. Despite Ardila nulling two match points with consecutive kills, the Huskies ultimately conceded the winning JMU kill to Martin.

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