DeKALB - Rebounding from its first defeat in over a month, the NIU volleyball team (20-5, 12-1 MAC) put in a strong defensive and offensive effort versus Eastern Michigan (8-18, 3-10 MAC) as it won in straight sets, 25–12, 25-16, 25-19. The Huskies amassed nine blocks and a hitting percentage of .337 to stake claim to the program's third-straight Mid-American Conference West Division title and the fifth overall under Head Coach Ray Gooden.

Jenna Radtke (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) and Lauren Zielinski (Oak Forest, Ill./Marist) totaled seven and six blocks, respectively, as Zielinski added a .615 hitting percentage. Mary Grace Kelly (Strongsville, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) led NIU with 10 kills while Anna Brereton (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) recorded 14 digs and three service aces.

"Tonight was a really good response after last week's setback against Miami. To come back and defend home like we did was awesome and I think a bye product of what we've done so far this season is a result of being crowned MAC West Champions so we're very proud of that," said Gooden.

The Huskies got off to a 10-1 start in the first set as it recorded six kills, two blocks and two aces in its first 10 points to set the tone. After a timeout by the Eagles, NIU reconvened and collected three more blocks in the stanza to finish with five in the opener. The Huskies physicality paced the team to a 25-12 triumph in the period.

Gooden was pleased with the team's fast start in the match.

"Eastern (Michigan) has some good, young kids and they do a good job of developing them and they did some things that were different since the last time we played them. Tonight was a matter of us being more consistent and a step ahead. I thought we started off really strong, especially blocking, and I thought we did a really nice job of just playing good defense. If we didn't block it, we dug it and we did a good job of transitioning to our offense," he added.

After limiting EMU to a .062 hitting percentage in the first set, NIU and the Eagles swung away in the second as they combined for 23 kills and just six total errors. The Huskies .440 hitting percentage was the high point in the frame, paced by Bri Horwath's (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) 4-for-4 performance. Northern Illinois University would take a 2-0 lead into intermission, 25-16.

In the final set, NIU's presence at the net returned as it blocked four of Eastern Michigan's attempts to hold the Eagles to a .000 hitting percentage. Brereton flew around the back line as the birthday girl collected eight digs in the third stanza alone.

The crowd of 509 that circled Victor E. Court rallied the Huskies in the embers of the match as EMU closed the gap from 20-9 to a tight 23-18 score, energizing Kelly to her 10th kill and substitute Brinley Milbrath's (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/John F. Kennedy) lone kill on match point, 25-19.

The Huskies will close the weekend tomorrow night versus Central Michigan on ESPN3. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.