The volleyball team contributed its share to NIU’s winning weekend by sweeping the Huskie Invitational which was held Friday and Saturday in Chick Evans Field House.

On a roll from their 3-0 weekend streak, the spikers carry their overall 6-3 record into Monday’s 7:30 p.m. match against Illinois State in Horton Field House.

NIU coach Pete Waite, former two-year assistant coach at ISU prior to his NIU arrival, said he thinks he can give his squad a little preview of what to expect from the Redbirds.

“I think I can help us out some,” Waite said, “but there’s very little time to prepare for the match after a major tournament like the (Huskie Invitational). We’re going to take (ISU) like any other match.”

If the Huskies can maintain the consistent play they demonstrated all weekend, the chances of beating the Redbirds look good.

According to Waite, NIU was the most “consistent and aggressive” during the tourney—the key to its win.

“There were four very evenly matched teams,” Waite said, “and we were the most consistent and aggressive throughout the tournament.

“Last weekend (NIU Triangular) we did not play well through all three matches (NIU lost the first and third games). Our goal was to play well through all three games this weekend, especially the third—and we did.”

NIU opened its series of matches Friday night against the University of Cincinnati.

With 6-15, 15-11, 15-8, 15-5 wins, the Huskies dominated with the accurate efforts of senior middle blocker Cathy Holmes. Senior setter Beth Glisk led NIU with 14 digs.

Connecting on 18-of-26 kills with only one error, Holmes paced the Huskies with a .654 hitting percentage. Holmes was unstoppable in the air as well, with 8 block assists and one solo block.

Waite was not the only boss who felt Holmes had a “fantastic match.” The Lady Bearcats’ coach Darrell Morken said he was impressed as well.

“When a kid comes out and plays as well as (Holmes) played, (the team) deserves to win,” Morken said. “Pete kept his (team) playing steady ball, and that’s what won it for them.”

NIU’s next victory came from 15-11, 14-16, 15-12, 15-4 wins over the University of Missouri Saturday afternoon.

“We struggled a little bit with consistency against Missouri,” Waite said, “but we showed a lot of maturity to hold them off and win in four (games).”

The final conquest came with 15-7, 15-13, 15-13 wins over Eastern Illinois Saturday evening.

“That was a great win for us to do in three games,” Waite said. “I was pleased with the win as well as the whole weekend. It was very important for our program to have won (the tournament) at this point in our season.”