DeKALB | Needing only one point to win the game, the NIU volleyball team knew who to turn to — Kate McCullagh.

As soon as the ball came to the Huskies’ side, senior librero Gina Guide bumped it to setter Mandi Caputo who set it to the senior middle blocker.

“I just knew it was going to be a free ball,” McCullagh said. “I wanted the ball, and Mandi set it perfect. I knew it was going to be a kill after I hit it.”

McCullagh’s kill took NIU to victory in game 3, and the Huskies (7-4) were able to sweep Illinois-Chicago (4-8) in three games 30-26, 30-21 and 30-27 Tuesday night on Victor E. Court. The sweep marks NIU’s sixth of the season.

“We’re passing more consistently,” coach Ray Gooden said. “We’re balancing things out the way we’d like to.”

In game one, NIU came out to a quick 2-0 lead in part to a Caputo ace but after that the teams traded points. The score was tied seven times before either team reached 20 points. A service error by the Flames started a 6-1 Huskie run and allowed NIU to take the game.

Two attack errors on UIC and a kill by junior outside hitter Laura Baetzel pushed the Huskies out to a quick 3-0 lead in game two. The Flames were never able to recover and NIU took game two by nine points.

McCullagh added six kills in game two and lead both teams with 23 total. Caputo added 13 kills and Guide added nine digs.

“We had matchups we thought we could take advantage of,” Gooden said. “And we capitalized on those opportunities.”

But the tables turned for NIU in game three. UIC came out firing and after a 3-2 lead by the Huskies, they didn’t hold a lead until a kill by McCullagh put the NIU up 22-21.

“We played so well, we thought they’d roll over and die,” Guide said.

The Flames came back to tie the game at 25 all, but a 6-2 NIU run closed out the game and match.

UIC head coach Nancy Mueller credited the Huskies’ victory to Gooden’s game plan to stop their All-Horizon league performer Ambria Springer and the Flames not being able to execute their game plan to stop McCullagh. NIU held Springer to seven total kills.

“We’re getting there,” McCullagh said. “We’ve got a ways to go, but all teams do. We’re all getting on the same page.”

Andrew Hansen is the NIU volleyball beat reporter for the Northern Star.