YIPSILANTI, Mich. – After the Northern Illinois University volleyball team dispatched Eastern Michigan in four sets (25-22, 25-12, 23-25, 25-13) Saturday evening on the road, two Huskies surpassed massive milestones. Katie Jablonski (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) and Ella Mihacevich (Brunswick, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) cracked 1,000-career kills and assists, respectively.

"I thought it was great to have a good positive team weekend," said head NIU coach Ray Gooden. "We had eight good sets against Eastern Michigan. I thought that Eastern did a really good job doing some things, but I think our team responded to it pretty well."

HOW IT HAPPENED
Back-to-back kills from Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) put NIU (17-10, 10-7 MAC) up 3-1 early in the first frame. Eastern Michigan (5-24, 4-13 MAC) made things interesting near the end of the set after embarking on a quick 5-0 run to knot the set at 20-20. The Huskies kept their cool and finished off the set on a 5-1 run, capped by Atiemo's kill from Jablonski.

In the second frame, a 7-1 run inflated NIU's lead to 12-6 before fans could blink. Another 7-1 run made the Huskies' advantage 20-9 as NIU remained in total control. Two kills from Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) plus an Eagle error handed the Huskies the second set.

The third frame was the closest of the four as the two squads traded blows for the full duration of the set. EMU had a 11-7 lead following their 6-1 run, but NIU stormed back on a 6-1 run of its own to take a 13-12 lead. With the set winding down, it was EMU who emerged victorious as the Eagles ended the set on a 5-2 run, forcing a fourth set.

In the fourth and final frame, the Huskies came out of the break swinging, taking a commanding 12-3 lead. After NIU logged a six-point swing to make the score 18-3, EMU posted a pair of kills, but that was all the momentum the Eagles could muster. The Huskies finished off the set with two kills from Jablonski, taking the set and the match.   

NOTABLES

• Jablonski's 20^th kill of the evening pushed her past 1,000-career kills, a milestone only 22 other Huskies have accomplished
  • The last Huskie to reach 1,000-career kills was Meg Wolowicz (2015-18)
  • Jablonski also had 10 digs for her 11^th double-double of the season
• Mihacevich's 52 assists helped the junior reach the 1,000-career assist mark
  • Mihacevich also posted her second-straight double-double of the weekend with 16 digs
  • Grace Balensiefer (2018-21) was the last Huskie to reach 1,000-career assists
• Nedic contributed 14 kills on 26 swings
• Atiemo had a match-high six blocks and 13 kills
• Francesca Bertucci (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) logged a match-high 21 digs
• Sophie Hurt (Elmhurst, Ill./IC Catholic Prep) tied her season-high three aces in the win
• NIU hit .367, just shy of its season-high .402 versus Akron on Sept. 23

UP NEXT
NIU has a quick turnaround as its regular season finale against Western Michigan (16-12, 8-8 MAC) is this Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET. The match will broadcast live on ESPN3.