Maybe it was because the Huskies had their back against the wall with a five-match MAC slide.

Maybe it was because the Huskies haven’t lost a senior night match since 1989, or maybe it was because the entire volleyball team donned green hair ribbons.

“We’ve kind of been going at the yellow-light pace,” said senior defensive specialist Megan Sprangers. “Green means go, and we won.”

For whatever reason, NIU (13-16 Overall, 5-9 MAC) snapped a three-match losing streak this weekend against Miami-Ohio (15-10, 8-6) as the Huskies swept the RedHawks 30-26, 30-23, 30-22.

“Everybody stepped up and played great tonight,” NIU coach Ray Gooden said. “We served well, we played good defense, and we attacked the ball well. Across the board the team played great.”

NIU’s three seniors made their presence felt Saturday night on Victor E. Court as the Huskies celebrated Senior Day for middle blocker Corinne Walsh and defensive specialists Marie Zidek and Sprangers.

Walsh was second in team kills with 12, and middle blocker Kate McCullagh and outside hitter Amy Ward produced 18 and 11 kills, respectively.

“I think I did well,” Walsh said. “But it was only because of my teammates that I was able to do that.”

Sprangers, Walsh’s teammate for the past two years, led the defensive effort with a team-high 13 digs, while Gina Guide who came up with nine digs.

Zidek produced two service aces in game three and helped to increase the Huskies’ lead from 16-14 to 19-14, giving the Huskies even more momentum in their three-game sweep.

“We realized we’re very much in a do-or-die situation,” Zidek said. “When we’re backed up in the corner we tend to fight harder. I definitely think we came out with the fight of 100 dogs tonight.”

Miami head coach Carolyn Condit felt the fight of the Huskies on Saturday night and saw the effect it had on her team.

“We didn’t have any fun playing out there,” Condit said. “I thought Northern from the get-go was aggressive, made a statement and played very well and to keep us out of our game.”

With the win, the Huskies moved into sole possession of eighth place in the MAC. If the season were to end today, NIU would host a first-round MAC tournament match Nov. 15.

NIU hopes to have another chance to play at home this season, but even if it doesn’t get another chance, the seniors couldn’t have asked for a better way to end their home career.

“Our team played for the seniors to give us a last good memory at home,” Zidek said. “It really showed tonight that we played for each other.”