Friday night’s volleyball game was a game of “lasts” for the NIU volleyball team.

It was the last North Star Conference match for the Huskies, the last home game of the 1989 season and the last time seniors Anita Kesteris, Jamie Steenblock, Laura Petersen and Alice McAvoy would play on the court of Chick Evans Field House.

Despite the NIU three-game loss (11-15, 7-15, 13-15) to the DePaul Blue Demons, the foursome left in style.

“As a whole,” NIU coach Pete Waite said, “Those four played one of the best matches that I’ve seen them play.”

Steenblock had 16 kills and 10 digs. Kesteris had four kills, 11 digs plus a service ace; Petersen contributed three digs and a .500 attack percentage; and McAvoy put down seven kills and scooped up 14 digs.

But it wasn’t the seniors that took the spotlight. Rather a sophomore, Dawn Gura, stole the show.

DePaul’s Gura lead the Blue Demons with an impressive .528 attack percentage. Gura had 20 kills with only one error. She, along with a persistent defensive effort from DePaul, held the NIU attack, but Waite liked what he saw.

“We really showed that we did improve this week in practice,” Waite said. “They’re playing some good ball. I’m glad we hung in there.”