And so the winning continues …

The NIU volleyball team came away with two more victories this weekend when it defeated both Loyola University and Ball State University at Chick Evans Field House.

The Huskies (13-3) took four games (15-3, 15-11, 15-12, 15-2) to beat Loyola in Friday’s match which was aired by Sports Channel Saturday at noon. Kori Schauer, a 6-4 sophomore, used the Loyola game as the first step in a “comeback” weekend.

Schauer has been struggling to make a successful return to the court after ankle surgery earlier this year, but showed up this weekend in quality form.

“Kori had a great weekend,” head coach Pete Waite said. “She just made up her mind to bring an aggressive and positive attitude onto the court and she did it.”

Schauer delivered 11 kills in 20 attempts with one error for a .500 average while teammate Wendy Mason led the number of kills with 15 but at .222 percent. Nikki Kozak led all digs with 15.

Saturday, NIU had less of a problem with the Cardinals, taking Ball State in three games for a 15-4, 16-14, 15-4 victory. Once again, Schauer’s hits were on target with another .500 game. Schauer had 12 kills in 22 attempts with one error and landed a successful block in four attempts. And in perfect sync with the Loyola game, Kozak led the team digs against the Cardinals with 18.

“We had a little lull in the second game,” Waite said. “But what followed was a great comeback. We just stuck it out to the finish.”

The Huskies now take a two-week break to regroup and prepare for North Star Conference play which begins October 11 against the University of Akron.

“We’re going to take a day off and go back to the basics,” Waite said. “Then we’ll start working more towards conference and going from there.”

Meanwhile, NIU hosts the USA vs. Japan match to be held Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at Chick Evans.

“It’s real exciting for us to be a part of it,” Waite said. “It’s really good for our program and should be a lot of fun.”