KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Timely blocking and service paved the way for the NIU volleyball team (19-4, 11-0 MAC) Thursday night at Western Michigan (8-16, 3-8 MAC) as Mary Grace Kelly (Strongsville, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) led offensively with 23 kills and a .564 hitting percentage in the Huskies four-set victory, 19-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-20.

Her 23 kills matched her career-high while her hitting percentage eclipsed her previous best of .538 last season at Ball State.

"Every place in our league, their home court is very difficult and her at Western Michigan it is no different," said Head Coach Ray Gooden. "It's always been a big challenge for us because they bring a lot of energy and there's a great atmosphere so for us to battle through, especially in that first set, and then to rally through the next three was big for us."

As both squads traded runs to a 10-10 tie, Western Michigan gained the upper hand at the media timeout, 15-11. Though the Huskies put together a pair of scoring runs – highlighted by Kelly's shot through the block that closed the gap to three, 22-19 - the Broncos won the opening stanza, 25-19.

NIU's block and serve ignited the team in the second, featuring Kelly at the line and Meg Wolowicz (Manitowoc, Wis./Manitowoc Lincoln) on the net, sparked NIU's offense in the frame as the Huskies never trailed by more than two points in the embers of the set, trading 14 ties and eight lead changes. WMU forced a deuce set on the Huskies service but NIU prevailed as it won, 26-24.

Northern Illinois University stormed out of the locker room after the intermission, forcing the Broncos to burn their timeouts early and lead, 20-10. After a brief WMU rally, NIU would clinch the set, 25-19, holding its opponents to a .133 hitting percentage in the set.

In the fourth set, with both teams trading points but the Huskies held the higher ground as they maintained a two-point lead and outhit the Broncos, .500-.171, in the final set. NIU finished the stanza strong as it won seven of the final 10 games to clinch the match and the set, 25-20.

Kelly also registered 11 digs, two service aces and three blocks in the contest as she recorded her second double-double of the contest. Wolowicz led NIU with five blocks while also adding eight kills. Jenna Radtke (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) recorded 10 kills in the match.

The Huskies will return to action Saturday night when they take on Miami (Ohio) in Oxford. The match features the Mid-American Conference's co-leaders, owning like records of 19-4 and 11-0 in conference.