Volleyball (6-8, 2-0 MAC) faced off against Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan over the weekend, giving it a 2-0 start to conference play.

Central Michigan

The game began with back-and-forth play from both teams as the first set was tied 7-7. Both teams came out with similar playing styles and couldn’t seem to deliver a kill the other couldn’t handle. Central Michigan took a 15-12 lead midway through the set that proved to be pivotal throughout. The Chippewas pushed the cushion to 21-16, but the Huskies made efforts at a comeback. Central Michigan went on to win the match 25-22.

The Huskies came out quick to start the second set, getting off to an early 7-0 lead.

The Chippewas faced a 15-4 deficit as the lead continued to raise throughout the set. NIU would go on to win the set by a score of 25-10 as Central Michigan couldn’t manage to make any dents in the lead.

The third set began with a 10-10 tie as Central Michigan got out to a much quicker start than it did in the second set.

The Huskies had a 20-17 lead nearing the end of the set with a chance to take a second straight set. NIU took care of the ball, going on to win the set 25-20.

The Huskies got out to another quick start in the fourth set with a chance at winning their third straight set and their first game in five contests. NIU went on to win the set 25-13, its second biggest margin in the game, to win the match 3-1.

“I think it was great for us to come out and get ready for a different phase of the season,” said NIU head coach Ray Gooden, according to an NIU Athletics news release. “Everyone knows that in conference everyone gets really geared up and it was a really competitive first set. Central is a young team but they have a lot of weapons, and so we battled back and forth. We had better control after that, and we got better as the match went on, so that was nice to see.”

Eastern Michigan

NIU got off to an early 12-8 lead against the Swoops in the first set of the game. The Huskies proceeded to open up a 23-18 lead with just two points remaining to take the set. Lauren Zielinski won the set for the Huskies with a kill, ending it 25-19.

An ace by Alexis Gonzalez opened an early 9-5 lead in the second set. The Huskies went on to open a 19-13, going on to win the set 25-20.

NIU led 17-13 towards the end of the third set with a chance to close the game. The Huskies won the set and match after a kill from junior outside hitter T’ara Austin, her 16th of the contest winning 25-19 and taking the game.

“It was nice to see our group defending the home court,” Gooden said according to NIU Athletics. “We did some nice things in our passing and our serving and keeping Eastern Michigan under pressure. It was nice for us to get some touches on the block and come away with points on some of the long rallies.”

The Huskies will take on Ball State and Toledo starting at 6 p.m. on Friday in Muncie, Ind.