Despite nearly 40 kills in two matches from Tera Lobdell, the NIU volleyball team was unable to gain a hold in the MAC West and was eliminated from the regular-season championship.

On Friday, Lobdell was the only Huskies player with double-digit kills (17) as they fell to Central Michigan (15-12 overall, 9-5 MAC), 33-31, 34-32, 30-21.

NIU (17-10, 6-8) followed up the loss with a win over Eastern Michigan (20-7, 8-6), who was then tied for first place. Lobdell had 22 blocks and added 13 digs in the 32-30, 22-30, 30-25, 30-21 win.

“Tera did a great job tonight,” NIU coach Ray Gooden said. “Not only did she score points with the kill, but she did a good job getting touches on the block and served well. She performed well in all aspects of the game.”

As for the standings, Gooden said the Huskies weren’t paying much attention to them. Either way, NIU will have a spot in the MAC Tournament hosted by Ball State starting Nov. 18.

“Either way, we are going to have to play someone Tuesday (Nov. 18) night, so we just need to start playing with some pride right now,” Gooden said. “That is the big issue for us.”

NIU now stands in fifth place in the MAC West. Central Michigan is in first by a game over Eastern Michigan and Ball State.

In the win over EMU, the Huskies recorded a season-high 18.5 kills and ended their second three-match losing streak of the season.

“There is only one way we can play, and that is together as a team,” Gooden said. “Tonight, the girls decided that they were going to come out and play together, and we had some success.”

Freshman middle blocker Kate McCullagh led the Huskies defense with 12 blocks, matching a career high. McCullagh added 10 kills and recorded her second career double-double for NIU.