Despite putting up a hard fight, Northeastern volleyball (9-14, 5-9 CAA) fell to the Campbell University Camels (20-5, 12-2 CAA) in four sets Nov. 7 and 8. The wins put the Camels in first in CAA standings and increased their win streak to 10.
In the first game against the Camels, freshman opposite hitter Emma Rowell led the Huskies with 11 kills, senior libero Nadia Koanui led in digs and aces at 23 and three, respectively, junior middle blocker Beatrice Gennari led in blocks with five and sophomore setter Arina Sosinovica led in assists with 20.
The first set was the Huskies’ worst showing of the weekend, falling to Campbell 25-15. Campbell took the first point off an error by Northeastern’s freshman setter Sofia King before Gennari fired off a kill to tie it up. Campbell took the next six points and never looked back. At Campbell’s set point, the Huskies notched three consecutive kills to cut Campbell’s 12 point lead to 24-15, but it was too late. A service error by graduate student opposite hitter Svenja Rodenbüsch ended the set in a 25-15 win for Campbell.
Whether because Campbell was overconfident or the Huskies were fed up with losing, Northeastern came out firing in the second set, going up 6-1 early. As Campbell cut Northeastern’s lead to 9-5, the Huskies took the next six for a 10-point lead at 15-5. The teams went point-for-point until Northeastern took five of the next six to take the set 25-13.
The third set was the closest of the day, with the Camels edging the Huskies, 25-23. Northeastern went out 3-1, but five consecutive points for Campbell put the team ahead 6-3. With the set tied at eight, the Camels took six of the next seven to lead 14-9. Northeastern then took seven of nine to tie the set at 16. The teams went point-for-point, tying it at 18 before Northeastern took three points consecutively. Campbell answered back with four to tie it once again at 22. Campbell sealed the win as it took three of the next four.
The fourth set was another close fight, with the Camels edging the Huskies 25-21. Both teams struggled to take the lead until, with the score tied at 6, the Camels took four of the next five to lead 10-7. Northeastern kept Campbell’s lead down to three points for the majority of the set until, with the score 22-19, Campbell took a point off a kill. Northeastern scored two consecutive points to cut the lead to 23-21, but consecutive kills ended the set in a 25-21 win for Campbell and the game in four sets.
Saturday’s matchup was even closer, but the Huskies still fell in four sets to the Camels. Gennari and Rowell had 11 kills each to lead the team, Rodenbüsch had four aces, sophomore middle blocker Zehra Yilmaz had five blocks and Sosinovica and Koanui once again led in assists and digs, respectively.
With the first set tied at three, the Camels notched seven consecutive kills to lead 10-3. Campbell held its lead the rest of the set until, with the Huskies trailing 22-14, Northeastern scored five consecutive points to bring it to 22-19. Unfortunately, a kill and two blocks sealed the set for Campbell 25-19.
Just like the day before, in the second set, the Huskies came out strong, going up 4-0. With Northeastern leading 6-3, the Camels notched four consecutive points to tie it at six. However, the Huskies persevered, taking five of the next six to lead 11-7. Northeastern maintained that lead until, with the Huskies up 18-16, the Camels took six of the next seven to jump ahead 22-19. The Huskies notched a kill and an ace to bring it back to within one, but a bad serve and a block brought it to Campbell’s set point. Rowell earned a kill to bring it to 24-22, but Campbell answered back with a kill of its own to end the set 25-22.
Motivated by the tough loss of the second set, Northeastern took the third to keep itself alive. Campbell was strong in the beginning, taking a 10-6 lead, but the Huskies were not ready to give up. They took seven of the next eight points to hold a 13-11 lead. Each team’s move was answered by the other until Campbell notched a kill and a block to regain the lead with the set 22-21. Northeastern then notched three straight points to bring it to set point and go back ahead. The Camels were given a point off an error by Rowell, but she reclaimed the set with a kill on the next point.
Unfortunately for Northeastern, the fourth set was the team’s downfall. With the set tied at five, Campbell took 10 of the next 11 points to propel itself to a 15-6 lead. Campbell grew its lead to 18-8 before Northeastern scored four consecutive points to cut the Camels’ lead to 18-12. Campbell held onto its lead the rest of the way, taking it from Northeastern 25-18.
In order to make the CAA tournament, a lot has to go right for the Huskies. Their losses this weekend knocked them down to eighth in CAA standings, and with only one spot up for contention, they need to sweep both Stony Brook and William & Mary in their weekend matchups. Unfortunately, both teams are playing weak opponents. Stony Brook is matched up against University of North Carolina Wilmington, which holds a 3-11 conference record, and William & Mary is against Hampton University, which has yet to win a conference game.
The Huskies are back in action for their final regular season games against the Hofstra University Pride (19-3, 11-3 CAA), who currently sit in second in the CAA standings, at home Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. and Nov. 15 at 3 p.m.
