GARY, Ind. — Indiana University Northwest volleyball dropped a 3-0 decision (26-24, 25-21, 25-19) to Viterbo on Wednesday night at the Savannah Center, with each of the first two sets slipping away late. The RedHawks fell to 13-7 overall and 8-4 in CCAC play.
The RedHawks battled from behind for most of the opening set, with Gabi Lilovich and Amie Schutz answering with kills to keep IU Northwest within striking distance. A Schutz service ace and a Brooklyn Perry kill pulled the RedHawks within three down the stretch, and Lilovich's kill off a Raniyah Preston assist cut the deficit to 24-23. IU Northwest couldn't close the gap in time, though, dropping the opener 26-24.
IU Northwest tried to settle in during the second, with Trinitie Lintner and Lilovich trading kills to stay within reach early. Preston delivered a service ace during an IU Northwest rally that trimmed the deficit to three, and Kaelan Murphy added a kill off a feed from Eva Everett to keep the set competitive. But the RedHawks couldn't find the separation they needed, falling 25-21 to face a 2-0 match deficit.
The RedHawks came out swinging in the third, with Preston opening the set on a tear — a kill, a pair of service aces and an attack error forced that helped IU Northwest jump out to an early 8-2 lead. Schutz and Lintner kept finding kills through the middle of the set to hold the advantage, but the RedHawks couldn't sustain the cushion late, and Viterbo closed out the sweep with a 25-19 finish.
Schutz led the RedHawks with 11 kills for 13.0 points, adding nine digs. Lilovich recorded 10 kills and 11 assists for 10.0 points, while Preston directed the offense with 14 assists, four service aces and 12 digs for 10.0 points. Murphy added four kills, and Lintner chipped in three kills with a block solo and block assist. Eva Everett paced the IU Northwest defense with 18 digs, and Lindsey Krueger added 11.
IU Northwest is back home Friday, Oct. 16, hosting Mount Mary at the Savannah Center, with first serve set for 3:30 p.m. CDT.
