Dominating.

One word that best describes the performances turned in by the NIU volleyball team this weekend. It started with a straight set pounding of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday night and was completed with a straight set thumping of the University of Kansas Sunday afternoon. The Huskies did not lose a single set in their three-game homestand.

“It’s fun when you win,” was coach Pete Waite’s reaction Sunday after his team upped its mark to 7-2 on the young season.

Saturday’s match against UWGB was NIU’s first volleyball confrontation in the Mid-Continent Conference. The Huskies destroyed the Phoenix by scores of 15-3, 15-6, 15-10 and sent a strong message to the rest of the league in the process.

“As a team, we came in knowing we wanted to win the conference, and we knew we needed to make a statement to Green Bay and we did that,” said Waite. “This year, this team is going after every opponent with the same fierce pressure. Sometimes last year we would slow down, but this year we have been more like a buzz saw.”

Individually, the Huskies were led by middle blocker Amy Foulke as she connected on eight kills against three errors in 13 attempts. She also registered six block assists and two solo walls. Outside hitter Wendy Mason also shined on the offensive side pounding seven kills in eight tries. She also recorded three service aces and four digs.

Waite, however, points out that it was not just individual play that did in the Phoenix.

“Saturday’s win really was a team effort,” he said. “It was nice to be able to put 14 players in and not worry about losing the momentum. We just have very few weak spots right now.”

The Huskies backed up Waite’s claim of no weak spots on Sunday with a three set dismantling of the Kansas Jayhawks by scores of 15-7, 15-5, 15-9.

NIU’s attack was led by outside hitter Kori Schauer, who registered 11 kills in 15 attempts with no errors. Setter Shelby Snyder continued to amaze with 35 assists, giving her an incredible 336 in just nine matches. On the defensive side, outside hitter Wendy Mason paced the Huskies with 11 digs.

NIU will now ride a three-game winning streak to Madison, Wis., to take on the Wisconsin Badgers Tuesday night.