VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University volleyball team (3-3,0-0 MAC) fell in its final two matches of the Popcorn Classic Saturday, hosted by Valparaiso. Yesterday, NIU beat Campbell in four sets, but ran into two difficult matchups today in SIUE (3-1,0-0 OVC) and Valpo (6-0,0-0 MVC).

Game One | How it Happened: Despite having two more kills than the SIUE Cougars (15-13) and having two players reach double-doubles, NIU fell to SIUE in five sets. In the first set, the Huskies had a 4-3 lead after Emily Dykes' (Winterville, N.C./Ayden-Grifton) kill from Ella Mihacevich (Brunswick, Ohio/Padua Franciscan), but that was the last lead NIU had in the set. Later, an 8-1 run from the Huskies knotted up the set at 13-13, but SIUE eventually pulled away with the 25-20 win.

NIU played their best volleyball in the second set - igniting on a 11-1 run to open scoring. The Huskies were hitting .550 percent and showed no signs of slowing down. Charli Atiemo's (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) set-winning kill put a stamp on the 25-11 triumph.

The third frame was closer, but a 4-0 run to open the set gave NIU the separation they needed to put themselves in front and never look back. A 5-0 run midway through the set, started by a SIUE service error, put the Huskies on top 14-8. Sammi Lockwood (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) and Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) laid down a huge block to hand NIU the 25-17 win.

After the Cougars went on a 6-0 run in the fourth set, NIU tied the game up 10-10 thanks to some consistent offense and stout defense. From there though, the two teams traded blow after blow before SIUE separated themselves towards the end of the set. The Cougars won the fourth set, forcing five.

The fifth and final frame was neck-and-neck for a majority of the set with the score going back-and-forth. But after five ties, the Huskies just couldn't get over the hump and separate themselves from the Cougars. SIUE won the set 16-14 and took the match.

"In these (five-set matches), you're playing against really good teams," said head volleyball coach Ray Gooden. "At times, we played well. But with so many momentum swings, we need to play consistent volleyball for a longer amount of time."

Game One | Notables: Both Katie Jablonski (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) and Mihacevich logged double-doubles in the match – Jablonski had 12 kills and 13 digs while Mihacevich posted 42 set assists and 12 digs. Lockwood led NIU with 13 kills and Francesca Bertucci (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) had 17 digs. Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) broke her career-high in blocks with eight in the match.

Game Two | How it Happened: Valpo proved to be one of the toughest foes NIU faced in the Popcorn Classic. The first set was a bruiser that went well past 25 points. Each team had 20 kills, but Valpo outlasted NIU 33-31, claiming the first set. Valpo took the second set as well after jumping out to a 5-0 lead. The Beacons held NIU to a .116 hitting percentage which in turn helped them win the second frame.

The third set was all NIU. The Huskies owned a .389 hitting percentage and garnered 16 kills off 36 swings. Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) slammed down the set-winning kill from Mihacevich as NIU won it 25-18. However, Valpo came alive again in the fourth set, ending the affair on a 6-3 run. The Beacons won the set 25-15, thus winning the match.

Game Two | Notables: Jablonski broke her career-high in digs with 20. She also had 11 kills for another double-double. Lockwood led NIU with 16 kills while Dykes had 13. Dykes also posted a .429 hitting percentage, her best of the season. Mihacevich posted a career-high 48 set assists. Mihacevich and Bertucci were named to the all-tournament team for their efforts the past two days.

Up Next for NIU: The Huskies now turn their attention the KC Roos Classic this coming weekend. NIU will face Kansas City at 7 p.m. on Friday before they take on Wichita State on Saturday at 2 p.m.