By: Gina-Maria Garcia, News Correspondent
The women’s volleyball team kept their five game win streak alive this weekend, defeating the College of the Holy Cross, and Harvard University in Harvard’s Malkin Center this weekend.
After losing the first set Saturday Sept. 17 against Harvard University, 24-26, the Huskies redeemed themselves by winning the next three sets, 25-20, 25-18, and 25-21 respectively.
The competition was tight against Harvard University, as the first two sets featured 16 ties. In the third set, things were tied at 15-15 but Northeastern pushed through with a 10-3 run to end the set. The fourth set began with the Huskies leading 10-8 followed by Harvard tying it up 20-20, and ending it with the Huskies 5 point push for the win.
“Playing Harvard and having that challenge before the conference play this coming weekend will really prepare us and give us momentum going in against Hofstra,” sophomore outside hitter Janelle Tucker said. “It was a good challenge.”
The team beat Navy in the tournament the day before in three sets, 25-15, 25-16, 25-14, respectively.
Both Tucker and freshman setter Jillian Briner were named to the Harvard Invitational All-Tournament team.
This feat did not go unnoticed by head coach Ken Nichols, who said that he felt his two players had fantastic weekends.
Despite recent play that warranted Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Week honors, Tucker said that the Huskies’ victory was not just because of her contributions but because of the whole team’s hard work as well.
“Everyone got the opportunity to step up and everyone did a really good job,” she said.
In an earlier match on Saturday, the team had yet another victory against College of the Holy Cross, winning the match in three sets, 25-14, 25-8, 25-17 respectively, earning their title as tournament champions. Sophomore middle hitter Nichole Kurz started off the first set serving giving Northeastern a 9-1 lead. The Huskies were able to finish off the set after kills by sophomore outside hitter Kelly Bacon, junior middle hitter Nicole Bishop and senior outside and middle hitter Lauryn Ciszek.
In the second set, the Huskies were able to have another serving lead, 9-2, but the third set was much closer with Holy Cross keeping up with Northeastern 9-7. At 24-7, Jasmine Marta finished off the game with a kill at the net.
“I think we played amazingly. I just remember last year when I was a junior in volleyball and we played Holy Cross and we did not do so well,” senior right hitter Ciszek said. “There is a major difference between last year’s game and this year’s game. Last year’s game we played at their level, but this year, not only in the Holy Cross game, but all our games, we played at the level we knew we could play.”
All 14 players had a chance to play and step up in the Holy Cross match, which is a rare opportunity for the team.
“This weekend was a good weekend to end our preseason on,” Ciszek said. “ It made us step up our level of play and we need to step up our level so we can win in conference.”
The Huskies will head to Hofstra University next week, which will mark their last game before conference play begins Sept. 30 at home against the University of Delaware.
