BUFFALO, N.Y. – The blazing hot Northern Illinois University volleyball team dispatched conference foe Buffalo (9-7,1-3 MAC) in straight sets (25-20, 25-21, 25-18) Friday night in Alumni Arena. The Huskies (11-3,4-0 MAC) have now swept opponents in eight matches thus far.

"I thought it was a really good team win for our group - just making this trip to Buffalo is tough - anywhere on the road is going to be a good win," said head volleyball coach Ray Gooden. "For our group to really come together and battle against a team like Buffalo, a very physical team from the serving line and as an attacking threat, was really nice for our team,"

How it Happened: NIU opened scoring on a 7-2 run, setting the tone for the three-set match early. The Bulls came withing three points at 12-9, but Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) stuffed their chance a comeback as she posted back-to-back kills to put NIU up 14-9. The Huskies ended the set on a 4-1 run thanks to a couple of Buffalo errors – plus two kills from Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) and Ella Mihacevich (Brunswick, Ohio/Padua Franciscan) put NIU in front 1-0.

After Buffalo owned a 3-2 advantage in the second frame, NIU embarked on a 6-0 run which was capped by a huge kill from Katie Jablonski (Elburn, Ill./Kaneland) to swing momentum in the Huskies' favor. Later, Atiemo's kill from Mihacevich put NIU in control 22-16, but the Bulls took off on a 5-1 run, coming within two points of NIU. But a Buffalo attacking error gave the Huskies set point while another attacking error handed set two to NIU.

Still on fire, the Huskies opened the eventual final frame on an 8-1 run – and the squad didn't slow down. Up 18-15, the Huskies buried the Bulls after a Jablonski kill sparked NIU on a 5-1 run. Now up 23-16, the Huskies needed just two points to complete the sweep. Atiemo spiked a kill for the first point and a Bulls' attacking error finished the affair.

Notables: NIU's 12 team blocks tied the squad's season high. Atiemo lead all with 11 kills while hitting .667, a career high. Nedic posted eight kills, four blocks, four digs and 10.5 points, all season highs. Jablonski added seven kills to NIU's 37 total.
Sammi Lockwood (Cary, Ill./Prairie Ridge) had a match-high six blocks while Francesca Bertucci (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) led with 20 digs. Mihacevich had a double-double with a match high 27 assists plus 15 digs to round out the evening.     

Up Next: The two teams will return to the court tomorrow at 2 p.m. EST for a rematch.

"We're going to have to do a really good job of getting rest because the turnaround is fast. We'll get ourselves recharged for tomorrow, look at the things that we did well and try to improve on the areas where we can improve."