DeKALB — In its first matchup since last year’s Mid-American Conference championship match Nov. 20, the volleyball team concluded their four-game homestand with a loss Saturday to the Miami University Redhawks in three sets (15-25, 25-27, 18-25).

The Huskies’ (7-20, 6-6 MAC) loss dropped them to a tie in third place with the University of Toledo Rockets in the MAC West Division standings.

“Miami is a really good team,” freshman outside hitter Jori Radtke said. “I think we could’ve been a lot more consistent with our ball control, our blocking, our attacking and just moving it around on the attack a lot. Their libero is awesome so we needed to switch it up, and we didn’t do it as much as we could’ve.”

The Redhawks opened the first set with a 7-5 lead before they went on a 8-0 run to give themselves a 10 point lead. NIU brought the deficit down to seven points, but Miami didn’t relinquish the lead and scored three straight points to win the set 25-15.

The second set featured a stronger start by the Huskies. NIU held a 10-5 lead before the Redhawks brought the deficit down to one with a 5-1 run. The Huskies outscored Miami and brought their lead back up to four points, but the Redhawks retaliated when they scored six of the next eight points to tie the match up 21-21. Later in the set, NIU held a 25-24 advantage, but three straight points by the Redhawks gave them the 27-25 set victory.

Freshman outside hitter Kaylee Martin led the Huskies with seven kills in the second set.

“Miami came out on a mission,” Head Coach Ray Gooden said. “I thought we responded better, especially after the first set. We just couldn’t find ways to finish it tonight like we have the past couple of weeks.”

NIU took a 12-11 lead in the third set before Miami bursted out with a 11-2 run to take an eight point lead. The lead was too large for NIU to overcome, and the Redhawks won the set 25-18 and swept the Huskies in three sets.

Martin had a double-double and paced the Huskies in kills for the match with 10. Senior setter Chandler Kinley had 24 assists and senior libero Anna Brereton recorded 18 digs in the match.

“I think it’s just a matter of being able to come out every night ready to play,” Gooden said. “I thought we were ready to go against Western [Michigan] Wednesday, and we did a real nice job there. The consistency of a young team is always going to be a challenge. Everybody being on board, everybody focused and being ready to go, that’s always going to be our thing. We’re [going to] need to keep working on it to remain stable.”

With the season coming to a close and the conference witnessing a tight race, the Huskies’ last four conference games are very important.

“I think some of the kids understand how serious it is right now, [and] I think some might not,” Gooden said. “We have to realize that it’s winding down and bring it every single night.”

The Huskies will return to road action to face the Central Michigan University Chippewas 7 p.m. Friday in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.