NIU volleyball players Wendy Mason and Amy Foulke were most likely the life of post-victory celebrations this weekend when the Huskies went 3-0 and earned a first-place finish in the Huskie Invitational.

Mason, a 5-10 junior, and Foulke a 6-0 sophomore, were selected by the tournament coaches as members of the All-Tournament Team. Foulke was additionally named the Huskie Invitational MVP.

“Amy Foulke has become more aggressive than she has ever been,” head volleyball coach Pete Waite said. “She’s basically finding out what a great player she can be.”

But Mason and Foulke have a hard time seeing their recognition as anything more than a team effort.

“I was really surprised by the MVP award,” Foulke said. “I think we all played and we wanted to win this tournament very badly. I suppose that’s what helped me play better but I never thought about getting it (MVP).”

Mason echoed her teammate’s sentiments. “Everyone played so good this weekend,” Mason said, “that more than a couple people deserved the award.”

Mason, who is enjoying her best season yet, credits newfound confidence for her success.

“I just think that I grew up,” Mason said. “I played a lot in the spring and found more time to really work on things I needed to improve. I feel more confident but I’d like to build that up.”

Mason and Foulke join the rest of the Huskies Tuesday for a home match against the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The NIU team has its work cut out for it. The Badgers posted a 29-8 season slate in 1990 that included a first place finish in the Big Ten Conference.

With the conference season still a couple weeks away, UW-M is off to a slower start this season having built a 3-4 ledger coming into Tuesday’s match. The Huskies (9-1) host UW-M at 7 p.m. in Chick Evans Field House.