Grkovic, Williams Have Career Nights At The Net In Four-Set Setback At Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. Rutgers volleyball came back for a third set win on Friday night against Indiana, but the Hoosiers continued its current winning streak taking the match 25-13, 25-17, 25-27, 25-14 at Wilkinson Hall.

• Rutgers collected 14 total blocks (3 solo, 22 assisted) as both juniors Kristina Grkovic and freshman Bekah Williams had career nights at the net. Grkovic totaled a career-high 10 rejections behind a career-best three solos and seven assisted blocks. Williams also swatted away a career-high four opponent attacks.
• It was the second in three games the Scarlet Knights reached double-digit blocks having posted 10 blocks in a 3-1 setback to Northwestern last week. RU’s 14 blocks were also the most by the Squad since totaling 19 in a 3-2 Victory over Michigan State back on Sept. 25.
• Williams also paced the attack with a team-high six kills. It marked the third time this season she led the Scarlet Knights in kills.
• Senior Alyssa Nayar registered her fourth double-double of the season and 20^th of her career behind 19 assists and 10 digs.

• SET 1 (13-25) | The Hoosiers never trailed in the opening frame, scoring the match’s first five points and going out to a 20-9 lead. The Scarlet Knights collected seven points off Indiana errors.
• SET 2 (17-25) | Indiana hit .407 in the second set en route to a 2-0 lead. Rutgers used a 5-1 run to trail by only two points at the Midway point. Grkovic added a kill and an ace during the burst while the run was capped by a swing from Taylor Humphrey that had RU down 13-11. Both squads traded points and then the Hoosiers captured four straight and maintained at least a four-point edge the remainder of the way.
• SET 3 (27-25) | It was a 7-7 tie when Rutgers broke away with five consecutive points that included a pair of blocks from the hands of Grkovic. While the Hoosiers responded with a 5-1 run to narrow its deficit to a point, Rutgers climbed out to a 17-13 edge. A 6-1 outpouring by the Hoosiers allowed the hosts to take the lead, 19-18. The Scarlet Knights punched back with four unanswered points that included a kill by Bekah Williamsa Solo block by Grkovic and an ace served up by Lexi Visintine. Grkovic and Williams would then team up at the net for a rejection that put RU ahead 22-19. Indiana would continue to keep the set close going on a 5-2 run to knot the score at 23-23. The set would be tied again at 24 and 25 all. RU’s first set point was thwarted by a kill by the Hoosier’s Morgan Geddes while a service error by the Scarlet Knights kept Indiana in the frame. Rutgers, however, closed out the set on a Vernon kill and a block by the Graduate student. RU totaled eight blocks in the win, including six stops by Grkovic. Bekah Williamsmeanwhile, led the attack with four kills.
• SET 4 (14-25) | The Hoosiers kept their win streak alive Bouncing back in the fourth set opening with a 7-2 lead. After hitting -.067 in its third set setback to the Scarlet Knights, IU rebounded to swing .393 in the final stanza.

• Kristina Grkovic’s three Solo blocks moved her into eighth place on the rally-era career leads list with 19 Solo blocks during her three seasons “On The Banks”. She needs four more solo blocks to move into a tie for sixth with Rachel Andreassian (2012-14) and former teammate Shealyn McNamara (2020-21).
• The trio of Solo rejections also moved Grkovic into the rally-era season leaders top 10. Grkovic now has 12 Solo blocks on the year which lands her sixth on the list. She needs one more block to move into a three-way tie for fourth with Hannah Curtis (2011) and current teammate Megan Vernon.

• The Rutgers volleyball team returns home for its lone game of the 2022 season at the College Ave Gym on Sunday, Oct. 30 against Illinois at 1 p.m
• Admission is free to the match at the College Ave Gym.
• Parkingfree with registration.
• Trick or Treat with the Scarlet Knights as fans coming to the College Ave Gym to cheer on Rutgers against Illinois wearing a Halloween costume can pick up free candy from the marketing table.

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