Kansas State University swept the NIU Women’s Volleyball Triangular tournament over the weekend to increase its season record to 6-0.

The Wildcats took it to the Huskies in the opening match of the tournament, winning by scores of 15-11, 15-12, 10-15, 15-13.

NIU was led by senior All-Midwest candidate Cathy Holmes with 10 kills and a .261 hitting percentage. Co-captain Amy Garrett pitched in with 10 kills of her own.

Despite the outcome, Huskie coach Pete Waite felt the team had improved over last week’s effort.

“Even though we lost, I was pleased, and the team was pleased with the way they played,” Waite said. “Our passing was excellent and the kids played a nice match.”

The Wildcats then proceeded to defeat Mississippi by scores of 15-9, 10-15, 15-8, 15-8.

Proving that it wasn’t Ol‘ Miss’ day, the Huskies also defeated the Lady Rebels in four games by scores of 12-15, 15-10, 15-5, 15-10.

“We’re certainly not pleased about losing two matches in four games,” Mississippi coach John Blair said. “We played streaky. That’s the best way to characterize it.”

After losing the first game, the Huskies came alive to take the match on the strength of crisp passing and strong hitting.

Starting setter Beth Glisk sparked the Huskies with 40 of the team’s 54 assists and a .429 hitting percentage.

“Our ball control was better,” Waite said. “Giving Beth the ball on target allows her to hit her targets in the offense. Beth also had some excellent blocks in the front line to help shut down Mississippi’s Ahern.”

In the championship rematch between KSU and NIU, the Huskies came out smoking.

Excellent passing and aggressive hitting put the Huskies in a position to avenge their earlier loss to the Wildcats.

But with the score tied at 9-9 in the first game, errant Huskie passes let the Wildcats take control of the match.

“I thought we were playing some super volleyball and we had a real good chance to win the match,” Waite said. “At that point, our passing broke down a little bit, we lost our intensity and Kansas State took over and finished the match.”

From that point on, senior prospective All-America candidate Shawnee Call took over.

Call led all players with 14 kills in the match and 45 in the tournament.

“She’s a great athlete, and she competes,” Nelson said. “She’ll smile on the court, but when it’s time to win or a team’s making a run, she just says ‘come on girls, let’s get going.’

“Northern’s going to be a good team,” Nelson said. “You can see them coming together much like we came together during the tournament.

“I wouldn’t want to be playing in Northern’s tournament next weekend because I have a feeling that they’re going to be playing real solid volleyball,” Nelson said.

NIU will host Cincinnati, Eastern Illinois and Missouri in the Huskie Invitational at Chick Evans Field House beginning at 5 p.m. Friday.