FARGO, N.D. – The NIU volleyball team (5-1) closed the NDSU Classic a perfect 3-0 this weekend, wrapping up its final match against host North Dakota State (0-6) in four sets, 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 25-13). Senior Mary Grace Kelly (Strongsville, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit) registered 23 kills with a .442 hitting percentage to lead the NIU attack.

Kelly became the first Huskie to record 20-or-more kills in a match this season and the first since Lauren Zielinski (Oak Forest, Ill./Marist) totaled 27 kills at Buffalo on Oct. 15, 2015. Jenna Radtke (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson) earned All-Tournament honors after completing the game with eight kills, six blocks, three service aces and a .462 hitting percentage.

"North Dakota State is a solid team that's looking to find its breakthrough. Their record is in no way indicative of the way they play. We were solid to come out the way we did in the first set, especially with our serving, passing and defense," said Head Coach Ray Gooden.

The Huskies put together a nice scoring run, scoring five-straight points after the opening serve, four of which came with Taylor Krage (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) serving. NIU would go on to lead by as much as eight in the set, 14-6, before the first timeout was called.

NDSU made a brief rally to close a 10-point Huskie lead but Kelly's five kills in the final seven NIU points put the nail on the head of the first set as the Huskies clinched the frame, 25-13.

The second set was a neck-and-neck affair as the Huskies and Bison swapped eight lead changes and 11 ties. NIU reached 15 first as they led, 15-13, after 4-0 run. However, North Dakota State made a 4-0 run of its own to reclaim the lead which it did not acquiesce.

With the Huskies trailing at set point, 24-20, a Bison error put service back in control of NIU where setter Chandler Kinley (Lexington, Ky./Lafayette) stepped up. After Radtke killed Kinley's first chance, the setter recorded an ace to close the gap to one point, 24-23.

After an NDSU attack by Alex Erickson sailed past the end line with a silent crowd and jubilant NIU bench awaiting the call, the head judge called an NIU touch to end the set, 25-23. Kelly had 10 kills at the intermission in 19 attempts, hitting at a clip of .474.

The Bison stampeded with their momentum at the start of the third set, leading 13-9 following a five-point run. However, after Gooden settled the team following a timeout, the Huskies went on an 11-1 run, holding NDSU to a -.118 hitting percentage to take a 2-1 lead in the match, 25-19.

"We did a really nice job of regrouping after the intermission and we finished strong and then we took it to another level in the fourth set, which was really positive for us," Gooden added.

Northern Illinois University controlled the final set, hitting .440 with 14 kills, to take the stanza, 25-13, and the match, 3-1.

NIU will return to action next weekend in the Aloha State, taking on Hawai'i, Utah Valley and Washington in the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge, hosted by the Rainbow Wahine.