YPSILANTI, Mich. – The NIU volleyball team (12-4, 4-0 MAC) powered its way past Eastern Michigan Saturday night, hitting a season-best .356 against the Eagles (7-10, 2-2 MAC) to claim the match in three sets, 25-15, 25-18, 25-19. Bri Horwath (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) and Mary Grace Kelly (Strongsville, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) led the Huskies with nine kills each.

"Eastern Michigan is a very good team and we were fortunate enough to win the tough and gritty points in some really key situations and I think that helped us to move ahead," said Head Coach Ray Gooden. "It was good to see different players step up at different times in the match and that all starts with our passing and handling of the ball defensively."

Both Horwath and Kelly got off to a hot start in the Convocation Center, leading NIU to 13 team kills in the set as the duo combined for nine of those, paced by Kelly's five. Defensively, the Huskies only allowed the Eagles to hit .079 in the set in 38 attempts.

Junior Anna Brereton (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) was a large part of Northern Illinois University volatility on the return as she amassed 13 digs and set up the Huskies efficient offense.

NIU increased its offensive output in the second frame, totaling 14 kills for a percentage of .344. The Huskies and Eagles were nip and tuck until NIU went on to lead by five, 20-15.

Though EMU tried to swing its way out of the hole, it ended the match on three straight attacking errors, capped by a Jenna Radtke (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) and Lauren Zielinski (Oak Forest, Ill./Marist) block to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead at intermission, 25-18.

The Huskies saved their best for last as they again totaled 14 kills but ended with an attacking clip of .393. Horwath and Radtke finished the match strong as they both posted four kills in the frame to lead the team's attack.

Service aces by Chandley Kinley (Lexington, Ky./Lafayette) and Taylor Krage (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) also rallied the NIU offense, which outscored Eastern Michigan 10-4 in the last 14 games to clinch the match with the third set victory, 25-19.

Northern Illinois University will start a four-match homestand next weekend, starting with contests against Ball State and Toledo on Oct. 7 and 8, respectively. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m. Central.