If only NIU had won one more game.

After getting swept by an 11-18 Toledo squad the night before, the Huskies’ volleyball season came to a close Saturday in Kalamazoo as they lost the decisive fifth game against Western Michigan. They lost with a final of 30-17, 27-30, 30-24, 21-30 and 15-9.

“Tonight’s match was like our whole season,” coach Ray Gooden said. “We fought hard but came up a little short. We just need to get to a level of consistency. Once we do that, we’ll be a lot more successful and win more matches.”

On Friday, NIU (13-17, 6-12 MAC) was swept by a Toledo team that had a conference record of 2-14 with a final of 30-21, 30-22, and 30-28.

In that match, outside hitter Tera Lobdell had her 15-match double-digit kill streak snapped with zero kills and a -.600 hitting percentage.

Jen VonderHaar picked up a little slack with 10 kills and a season-high .533 hitting percentage.

“Jen really played well tonight,” Gooden said. “We needed the rest of the team to come out and give the same effort that she did. She’s a senior and she knows that her opportunities are limited so she is going out there and tried to make the best of it by giving it her all.”

Even with the loss to the Rockets, NIU still had a chance to move on to the MAC Tournament with a win over the Broncos.

On Saturday, the Huskies’ effort came up short in the fifth game when WMU (14-17, 8-10 MAC) built an 8-6 lead and then went on a 7-3 run to end the match and NIU’s season.

Lobdell bounced back from the Toledo match with 20 kills and 15 digs. With 15 kills Brooke Dodson, along with Lobdell, were the only Huskies in double digit kills. Shara Parker also had 15 digs, good for tops on the team.

“Tera and Brooke both played really well, and Shara Parker played some really good defense,” Gooden said. “Our upperclassmen fought hard throughout the match but we just couldn’t get over the hump.”