They say that all winning streaks must come to an end. For the NIU volleyball team, its streak ended late last night.

The Huskies lost a three-set match to the No. 3 team in the nation, Long Beach State, by scores of 15-0, 15-8, 15-6. The loss ended the Huskies’ 15-match winning streak and gave them their first taste of defeat since Sept. 12 at the Miami (Ohio) tournament.

“Even though the team said they weren’t nervous, we were still very tentative,” said NIU head coach Pete Waite. “They (Long Beach) came out and backed up their rank and their place in the standings.”

Long Beach State extended its winning streak to 18 matches and upped its mark to 17-1 on the season.

The 49ers came into their own Gold Mine Gymnasium and put on a hitting clinic with a .507 attack percentage, compared to NIU’s .215.

“They hit some unbelievable shots at an unbelievable pace,” said Waite, “but for us I think it was just a case of the jitters against a national power.”

Game one was a statistical nightmare for NIU. The Huskies managed only eight kills in 18 attempts for a .112 attack percentage. The 49ers rang up 14 kills in 17 attempts for an incredible .815 attack percentage.

Games two and three were a little bit closer but again Long Beach had the upper hand with a combined 30 kills to 27 for the Huskies.

Individually, NIU was led by Nikki Kozak who managed 10 kills in 15 attempts against four errors for a .400 attack percentage. Kori Schauer chipped in nine kills in 15 attempts against three errors for a .400 attack percentage.

The 49ers were led by All-American Danielle Scott who slammed 11 kills in 18 attempts against two errors for a .500 attack percentage. Christine Romero also had a fine night, ripping 15 kills against two errors in 20 attempts for a .650 attack percentage.

After the game head coach Pete Waite felt the team did not take the loss lightly.

“A number of them are pretty upset because we are a much better team,” Waite said. “We were shanking balls that a number of times we do not. We also had some people make some errors that they usually do not.”

The Huskies do not have long to sit and sulk about the defeat. They still have four matches in the next two days at the Cal Northridge Tournament, which starts later today.