(GREEN BAY ATHLETICS) – DEKALB, Ill. – The Green Bay volleyball team needed just four sets (27-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-19) to take down the Northern Illinois Huskies Friday on the road at Victor E Court. The Phoenix extended its win streak to nine, matching the longest streak for the program since the 2022 season. Green Bay last won 10 games straight in 2018.
The win improved the Phoenix’s record to 11-4 overall and 4-0 in Horizon League play, which is good for the top spot in the HL standings.
The Phoenix offense was paced by Diane Pichelman, who finished with a season-high 21 kills on the day while accumulating a hitting percentage of .529. Kelsey Justman added 11 and Gillian Koning chipped in with 11. kills as part of balanced Green Bay attack. Defensively, the Green & White had three players reach double figures in digs, including Macy Kline’s 10, 10 from Alexa Hernandez, and 10 more from Kennedy Schmitz.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Phoenix earned a close set-one victory, 27-25, propelled by a solid showing on the attacking end. Green Bay registered a .485 attack percentage with 19 kills in the set. The Phoenix opened up an 8-3 lead which proved to be enough to take an early 1-0 lead.
SET 2 | Green Bay then dropped set two 25-20, tying the match at a set apiece. Northern Illinois grabbed a 9-6 lead early, which proved a large enough lead to hold on and tie the match at one.
SET 3 | Green Bay put the second-set loss behind and grabbed a 2-1 match lead with a 25-19 win in set three. Green Bay opened up as much as a seven point lead at 18-11 before closing out the set, totaling 16 kills along the way. GB was once again efficient in the third, hitting .314 in the set.
SET 4 | Green Bay kept the momentum going, earning the match win with a 25-19 set-four victory. Green Bay put together another strong performance on offense, registering a .359 attack percentage with 17 kills.
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay outhit NIU .324 to .217.
» Kline had a team-high two aces in the win.
» Green Bay attackers were helped by a match-high 50 assists from Alexa Hernandez.
COMING UP
Green Bay will look to push its win streak to double digits next weekend when they travel to Wright State. They’ll take on the Raiders on Friday at 5 p.m. CT and on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Comments