JOLIET, Ill. — Indiana University Northwest volleyball dropped a three-set match Tuesday night to Saint Francis (Ill.), 25-22, 25-11, 27-25, at the Pat Sullivan Center. The RedHawks (9-15, 5-4 CCAC) showed grit throughout, pushing the Fighting Saints to the limit in the opening and final frames.
Saint Francis opened the first set with steady offensive pressure, but IU Northwest matched point-for-point early. The RedHawks built a 7-5 lead after kills from Gabi Lilovich and Kaelan Murphy, with libero Eva Everett keeping rallies alive through scrappy defense. Saint Francis responded with a mid-set surge to go up 18-15, but IU Northwest rallied again with late kills from Lindsey Krueger and Trinitie Lintner before falling just short, 25-22.
The second set saw Saint Francis find its rhythm from the service line, forcing IU Northwest into an early timeout at 6-0. Lilovich and Murphy tallied kills to stop the run, but the Saints' efficiency at the net proved too strong as they took the set 25-11.
IU Northwest regrouped in the third, trading points in an intense back-and-forth battle. Lintner sparked the offense early with two kills, and the RedHawks rallied from a 15-10 deficit to tie the set at 21 on consecutive kills from Krueger and Lilovich. Everett's ace gave IU Northwest a 24-23 edge, but the Saints clawed back with three straight points to close out the set, 27-25.
Lilovich led the RedHawks with nine kills and six digs, while Krueger added five kills. Lintner contributed four kills and two blocks, and Everett anchored the defense with 10 digs and a service ace. Setter Raniyah Preston finished with 13 assists and seven digs.
IU Northwest returns home to the Savannah Center on Thursday, Oct. 9, to host Saint Ambrose University at 7 p.m.