University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
7-3
Northern Illinois
7-4
Vols Lose to NIU 3-0 to Start GW Invite
September 16, 2016 | Volleyball
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Tennessee volleyball team lost 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-20) to Northern Illinois in the opening match Friday of the George Washington Invitational at the Charles E. Smith Center.
The Vols (7-3) dropped a close first set and could not rebound from a seven-point run by Northern Illinois (6-4) midway through the second set in the loss.
Freshman Tessa Grubbs had a team-leading 12 kills and junior Britney Vallez finished with 10 digs to lead the Vols. Junior Kanisha Jimenezez added six kills and four digs playing the last two sets.
On Saturday, Tennessee takes on James Madison (7-3) at 10:30 a.m. and host George Washington (6-4) at 7:30 p.m.
In a back-and-forth first start to the match, the Vols scored three unanswered points to tie the score 23-23, but the Huskies won the next two points to clinch the set 25-23 on a blocking error by UT and a block. Both teams hit .000 in the the set.
In the second set, Northern Illinois scored seven unanswered points late in the set to come from behind to take a 23-18 lead. While the Vols fought off two set points, Northern Illinois took the second with a kill by Jenna Radtke.
The Vols changed the lineup to start the third set. NIU jumped out to a 10-4 lead, but Tennessee chipped away. Tennessee won five of six points to close the lead to 15-14 and came within a point again at 16-15 on a kill by freshman Sedona Hansen, but NIU won five of the next six points to retake momentum at 21-16.
NOTES
- Tennessee starters: Sedona Hansen, Erica Treiber, Britney Vallez, Alyssa Andreno, Raina Hembry, Bri Holmes and Bridgette Villano as libero. It is the third time in four matches the lineup has been used.
- Freshman Tessa Grubbs led the Vols in kills for the seventh time this season, finishing with 12. She has had double-digit kill totals in six matches.
- Britney Vallez led Tennessee in digs for the first time in her career, finishing with a season-best 10.
- Playing only the third set, outside hitter Kendra Turner had five kills and one dig.
