BEXLEY, Ohio -- Junior Meg Wolowicz (Manitowoc, Wis./Manitowoc Lincoln) had a team-high 10 kills as the Northern Illinois University volleyball team closed non-conference play with a 25-12, 25-20, 25-18 setback against Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon at the Buckeye Invitational. 

Wolowicz was named to the Buckeye Invitational All-Tournament Team after recording 26 total kills, hitting .323, with seven blocks for the weekend. 

"Once we got over the first set of coming in not ready to play, we put ourselves in spots where we were doing some good things," said NIU head coach Ray Gooden. "I think there is a lot of things we have taken from the 15 (non-conference) matches that we feel like if we are able to work on, and improve upon, it can put us in a positive spot to be competitive in the league."

Western Kentucky (13-2) claimed the opening set after tallying 17 kills and a .389 hitting percentage. The Hilltoppers raced out to a 7-1 lead in the set and didn't look back; Rachel Anderson and Alyssa Cavanaugh each had four kills to lead WKU in the first set. Senior Anna Brereton (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) had five digs for the Huskies in set number one. 

The Hilltoppers continued their strong offensive afternoon in set number two, hitting .464 with 16 kills. The set was tied, 16-16, until a pair of aces from Hallie Shelton gave WKU a slim lead. Western Kentucky's lead was just one, 20-19, until four-straight points gave the Hilltoppers a cushion as they claimed the set, 25-20. 

Anderson had five kills in the set to pace Western Kentucky; freshman Kaylee Martin (Sterling, Ill./Sterling) and junior Autumn Martin (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) each had four kills as NIU recorded 13 kills and hit .303 in the second set. 

The Huskies and Hilltoppers were tied in the third set, 16-16, but Western Kentucky closed the set on a 9-2 run to take the set, 25-18, and sweep the match. Anderson, Cavanaugh and Taylor Dellinger each had four kills in the final set as WKU tallied 15 as a team in the final set. Wolowicz had five kills and hit .500 for NIU in the third set. 

Anderson led Western Kentucky with 13 kills in the match, Cavanaugh also reached double figures with 12 kills for the Hilltoppers. 

NIU will begin Mid-American Conference play on Thursday, Sept. 21, when the Huskies travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to meet Western Michigan. First serve against the Broncos is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.