For the second consecutive weekend, the Valpo volleyball team opened tournament play with an extremely tight match, and just like last week's season opener, the Beacons out-dueled their opponent in a fifth set, taking down Northern Illinois 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 24-26, 15-11) in their opener at the St. Thomas Invitational. Freshman Lilly Merk (Terre Haute, Ind./Terre Haute South Vigo) set a program single-match standard in the 25-point era as she tallied six service aces in the win.

How It Happened

• NIU opened on top in the decisive fifth set with three of the first four points before Valpo responded with four points in a row, including kills from senior Elise Swistek (LaPorte, Ind./New Prairie) and junior Sam Warren (Kentland, Ind./South Newton).
• The Huskies tied the frame at 5-5 and 6-6, but that just set up the set's key run, as the Beacons scored five of the next six points to pull out to an 11-7 advantage. Warren and freshman Jordyn Gove (Amarillo, Texas/Randall) had kills during the run, while Merk and freshman Ava Helming (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) combined on a block.
• NIU scored the next two, but Valpo answered with three in a row — including another rejection by Merk and Helming, as well as a kill by the latter — to earn match point at 14-9. NIU held off two attempts to close the match, but a service error finished out the Beacons' win.
• Each of the first four sets went right down to the wire. In the opener, Valpo never trailed after 11-10, but was unable to pull away, as NIU closed to within one point multiple times down the stretch. On the second chance to clinch the set, Warren put away a kill to give the Beacons the 1-0 match lead.
• Valpo trailed by as many as six points in set two, but chipped away and finally finished erasing the deficit at 22-22. The Huskies and Beacons were again tied at 23-23 before NIU put together back-to-back points to even up the match.
• It looked like the Beacons would roll to a win in the third set, leading 18-11, but NIU came back with six points in a row to make it a one-point set. It was still just a one-point Valpo edge at 23-22 until Swistek came up with a kill to give Valpo set point and Merk delivered a service ace to close the third frame in Valpo's favor.
• Merk had three aces during one service run in the fourth set which turned a 10-6 NIU lead into a 12-10 Valpo lead. The lead changed hands multiple times over the remainder of the frame before NIU eventually emerged on top in extra points, setting up the fifth set.

Inside the Match

• Valpo has won both of its five-set matches this season. Dating back to last year, the Beacons have won six of their last seven five-set affairs.
• Thursday's win was just the third in program history over Northern Illinois in 20 attempts. Valpo has come out on top in both of the recent meetings, however, as it also won a 2022 matchup.
• Merk's six aces were the highlight of the box score on Thursday, as the rookie now tops the program record book for a match in the 25-point era.
• The last time a Valpo player recorded six aces in a single match came on Oct. 6, 2007 by Tiffany Meikle at Green Bay.
• Merk is now tied for the second-most aces in a single match by a Valpo player in the rally-scoring era in any length match, and also is tied for the most aces in a five-set match by a Valpo player across all eras.
• Sophomore Mara Thomas (Bogart, Ga./Athens Academy) tallied three aces as well, doubling her career total from the service line.
• As a team, Valpo totaled 12 aces on Thursday, its highest total in a five-set match in the 25-point era and tied for second in any length match in the 25-point era.
• Merk also recorded five blocks for the third time this season, while Helming posted a season-best four rejections.
• Three Beacons tied for team-high honors with 12 kills apiece. Warren matched her career best with her 12-kill effort, while Gove reached double figures for the second straight match.
• Swistek also contributed 12 kills while notching 13 digs as well for a double-double.
• Valpo improved to 9-1 when junior Addy Kois (Osceola, Ind./Penn) records a double-double, as she finished the evening with 24 assists and 13 digs. Thomas dished out 18 assists as well.
• Junior Emma Hickey (Granger, Ind./Penn) led the Beacons' back-row effort with 28 digs, the 38^th time in her career she has surpassed the 20-dig mark.

Next Up

Valpo (3-1) continues action from St. Paul, Minn. as it faces the host Tommies on Friday night at 7 p.m. The match will be streamed live on the Summit League Network.