DeKALB | For NIU volleyball coach Ray Gooden, the only difference between Saturday’s 3-2 win over Eastern Michigan and losing was one or two plays.

“We turned a play or two,” Gooden said. “But that’s about it.”

After beating the Eagles 30-22 and 30-26 in the first two games, the Huskies couldn’t close out the match. EMU capitalized, winning the next two games 30-24 and 30-25 and forcing a Game 5.

“We said ‘we have to erase those two games,'” senior libero Gina Guide said. “We have to focus on getting those 15 points.”

In Game 5, EMU (5-12 overall, 0-6 MAC) took charge and held a lead until the Huskies tied the score at 10. NIU (12-6, 5-1) went on a two-point run but the Eagles countered and tied the score at 14. Needing only two points for either team to win, the teams tied five more times in the match.

A kill by freshman outside hitter Meagan Schoenrock put NIU up by one and an attack error by EMU closed out the game 21-19 for an NIU win.

The win marks NIU’s best start in conference since 1998.

Leading the way defensively for the Huskies was Guide, who set a school record for digs in a single match with 41. Offensively, senior middle blocker Kate McCullagh posted a double-double of 25 kills and 15 digs and junior outside hitter Laura Baetzel tied a career-high with 16 kills. Sophomore setter Mandi Caputo also had a double-double of 58 assists and 19 digs.

The Eagles were led by middle blockers Lindsay Piccolini and Becky Reenders, who posted 21 and 20 kills.

NIU swept Central Michigan on Friday 30-21, 30-14, and 30-22.

Sophomore defensive specialist Jody Hardwick had three service aces to contribute to the team’s eight total aces for the match.

Gooden credited the team’s overall consistency to the serving against CMU (11-5, 2-3).

“With consistency came more confident, aggressive serving,” Gooden said.

McCullagh had 16 kills, snapping her six-match streak of 20 or more kills, and Schoenrock added 14 kills on a team season-best .632 hitting percentage. Outside hitters Irene Johnson and Baetzel added seven and five kills respectively. Caputo added 38 assists and Guide had 24 digs, one shy of the three-game record.

“It’s nice for people to step up,” Gooden said. “Kate doesn’t have to be supreme for us to win.”