DeKALB —   The NIU volleyball team swept through the Charleston Southern Buccaneers Tournament by beating the host team Saturday morning to go 3-0 on the weekend. The huskies have now won 

The Huskies made a statement Saturday winning in four sets as the team hit for a season-high 61 kills for the match.

The Huskies got off to a fast start in the first set, taking an early 7-2 lead after a play by sophomore setter Ella Mihacevic. Mihacevic had a three play run where she got a kill, assisted on a kill to junior outside hitter Katie Jablonski and got an ace. Her energy helped the offense click as she was hitting and setting up plays very well 

“We did a good job handling the tough serve of Charleston Southern and Ella was aggressive and made good decisions when she attacked the ball,” head coach Ray Gooden said in an interview with NIU Athletics. 

The closest the Buccaneers came in the set was 10-8 Bucs. Junior outside Paige Reagor was able to put down two kills during the run. It was all Huskies from this point on as the offense started coming from multiple Huskies. Senior middle blocker Jasmine Kemp, freshman middle Charli Atiemo, and freshman outside Nikolette Nedic each added in three kills respectively.

The combined offensive attack allowed the Huskies to pull away with a big lead winning the set 25-15. 

The second set was a nail biter of a game as there were a total of five lead changes.The Huskies got an early 3-0 lead with Kemp and Atiemo getting kills. 

The Bucs were quickly able to tie the game back up, and later take a 13-9 lead after some sloppy play by the Huskies where they were aced twice and had an attack error.

The Huskies were able to get their play under control and fought back to tie the set again at 22-22. The Huskies then put down two straight kills on back to back plays taking a 24-22 lead.

The Buccaneers however ended any hopes of the Huskies comeback as they would go on a 4-0 run to tie the sets at 1-1

The Huskies would take the third set  25-20 with the defense being a big factor in the set win. The Huskies blockers were up on the net all game and they were finally able to get in the way of the Buccaneers hitters. The Huskies recorded five of their total ten blocks in the set, helping them hold on to a seven point lead for much of the set. 

The final set went back and forth until the Buccaneers were able to take a 15-12 lead off of Huskie attack errors. 

The Huskies were able to battle back tying the game 18-18. It was a Huskies run, capped off by a Michacevich’s block and kill, to take a 22-18 lead. 

The teams would trade points back and forth and with the Huskies leading 24-22. Atiemo’s 16th and final kill would win the set and match for the Huskies. 

With a perfect tournament record, the Huskies were able to improve their record to 6-2 on the season and the team is now tied for third in the Mid-American Conference overall rankings. 

The team looks to keep their four game win streak alive with a home matchup against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 6 p.m Thursday at Victor E. Court.