The NIU volleyball team made quite an impression this weekend at the Kansas Jayhawk Earlybird Classic tournament. The Huskie spikers brought home a pair of three-game victories, three all-tournament picks, and one happy coach.

The Huskies (2-1) swept both University of Tulsa (15-11, 15-9, 15-6) and Drake University (15-11, 15-5, 15-6) in the Friday-Saturday tournament. Only host Kansas side-tracked NIU, posting a four-game victory (15-4, 15-9, 9-15, 15-6).

NIU senior Julie Kreiling-Zinke, plus freshmen Shauna Campbell and Kori Schauer, were all voted to the all-tournament team by the participating coaches. Schauer led NIU with 32 kills followed by Kreiling-Zinke’s 28 kills. Campbell served as set-up artist for the two hitters, compiling 106 assists. She added 27 digs to lead the NIU defense.

“I’m really happy with the way we hung in those times when we got down in games,” Huskie head coach Pete Waite said. “We mixed combinations in the matches and did a good job keeping the ball moving.”

The Huskies face Marquette University in tonight’s 7:00 home- opener, which kicks off a full schedule for the remainder of the week.

Following the game tonight, the Huskies start a road trip Friday at Butler University and then travel to the three-team Ball State University Cardinal’s Invitational Saturday. The team then returns home Sept. 11 for a four-match homestand against Bradley University.

“Our season competition continues to get stronger, and this weekend’s schedule does not differ from that. I would like to see us come away from the road games with at least two wins, then get the homestand off to a good start with a victory against Bradley,” Waite said.

“We are playing a young lineup, but everyone is showing a great amount of court maturity,” Waite added.

Tuesday’s match with former North Star Conference rival Marquette University has been designated by Waite and the Huskies as “Illinois Tornado Assistance Night.” Persons attending the match are asked to bring cans of non-perishable food items for donation toward local tornado victim relief efforts. All donated items will be taken to the Newman Center for distribution.