Volleyball Splits Pair Of Five-Set Matches At Eckerd Invitational

The Northwood volleyball team wrapped up play at the Eckerd Invitational Saturday afternoon (September 8) by splitting a pair of five-set matches. The Timberwolves defeated Rollins 3-2 (16-25, 25-17, 26-24, 21-25, 15-10 before dropping a tough 3-2 contest to No. 22 Eckerd (20-25, 25-16, 13-25, 32-30, 20-18)

Northwood is now 5-3 overall on the season.

Against Rollins, the Timberwolves trailed 1-0 before taking the next two sets. Rollins came back to take the fourth and force a fifth and deciding set. The Timberwolves came out immediately and took control of the fifth, leading 4-2 and 11-5. Rollins got no closer than four the rest of the set. Three Northwood players finished with at least 12 kills, led by a pair of freshman. Juliia Pakhomenko (Donetsk, Ukraine) totaled 19 kills and 21 digs, which were team-highs in both categories. Cassandra Marsh (Maumee, Ohio) finished with 14 kills, while Zina Liubymova (Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine) had 12 kills and 17 digs.

The Eckerd match saw Northwood led 2-1 after three sets before the two teams locked up in a pair of epic final sets. The Timberwolves had five match points in the fourth, but Eckerd fought off all of them. The Tritons took the set 32-30 on their third set point. In the final set, Northwood had three more match points, but were unable to put away the victory. A block on Eckerd's third match point gave the Tritons the win. Northwood had more kills (75-68), digs (82-67) and a higher attack percentage (.261-.213) in the match, but Eckerd finished with a 16-6 advantage in blocks. The match also featured 48 ties and 21 lead changes throughout. Pakhomenko and Liubymova once again led the way for the Timberwolves. Pakhomenko finished with 23 kills, 17 digs and two blocks. Liubymova had 20 kills and 25 digs.

Northwood will open GLIAC play with a home match this Friday (September 14) against Ferris State. First serve is set for 7 p.m.