With the victory over Chicago State on Tuesday, the NIU volleyball team gained some much-needed momentum.

The Huskies will try to use that momentum when they head to Buffalo (7-8 overall, 0-2 MAC) to open a stretch of four-straight MAC matches.

The Huskies will also travel to play a Kent State team that has a record of 5-4 and is 2-0 in conference play with victories over Toledo (10-2) and Central Michigan (4-9).

“We needed momentum since we’ve lost two MAC matches in a row,” senior outside hitter Tera Lobdell said. “I think when you lose, your confidence goes down, and this helped us a lot.”

NIU dropped matches to conference foes Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green during a nine-match road trip.

NIU coach Ray Gooden said it was good to be home after that stretch.

“This gave us motivation to get back out on the road,” Gooden said. “We have gone through some extreme highs and lows in an eight-day stretch.”

The Huskies face the Falcons again Oct. 9 for a chance to even the season series.

Middle blocker Kate McCullagh said the way the Huskies won was also key.

“I think sweeping the match is a real confidence booster,” McCullagh said. “Coming off the losses, it felt good knowing we could do that to a team like that.

“Doing this at a home match really sets us up,” McCullagh said. “Now we can go out on the road and do well in the conference matches.”