MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Led by ten kills from Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy), the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team (3-15, 1-7 MAC) was swept in action by the Chippewas of Central Michigan University (16-5, 7-2 MAC).
 
The match featured set scores of 21-25, 20-25, and 17-25.
 
"Central is the most physical team we've seen. We have to find ways to push our offense better in practice and find ways to move the ball around a good blocking team," said NIU head coach Sondra D'Amore.
 
The Huskies recorded their fewest number of digs and blocks in tonight's contest.
 
Game Recap
 
The Huskies and Chippewas traded points as the teams battled early. A kill by Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) put the Huskies up 5-4 as Central Michigan answered with three straight points. Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar) and Crew Hoffmeier (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) had back-to-back kills as the Huskies got within one at 10-9. Central Michigan extended their lead to five at 15-10 as Atiemo grabbed her first kill of the night at 15-12. After getting down by seven, the Huskies found an answer in Alvin with a kill. Güvener started NIU on a 4-0 run to get within three before Central Michigan took the first set 25-21.
 
Hoffmeier recorded the second ace of the evening for the Huskies as NIU took a 2-1 lead early in the second set. Güvener and Atiemo had consecutive kills for the Huskies before Central Michigan went on a 4-2 run and a five-point lead. Trailing by six, a Güvener kill started the Huskies on a 5-0 run to bring the match within one at 15-14. The Huskies weren't going away as a block by Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) and Alvin tied the game up at 18 for NIU's lone block of the game. Nedic then answered a Central Michigan kill with a kill of her own to tie the set for the final time at 19.
 
Atiemo tied the third and final set up at two as she answered two quick points by Central Michigan. The teams traded runs, with each team scoring five unanswered points before an Emma McCartney (Chardon, Ohio/Chardon) kill tied the set at seven. Central Michigan ended the Huskies scoring run with a kill and the Huskies would never regain the lead. McCartney had two of the final three kills for the Huskies as Central Michigan swept the Huskies for their third straight loss.
 
Huskie Highlights

• Atiemo marked her 13th game with double-digit kills. She has 958 kills in her career with ten games remaining in the regular season.
• Sarah Lezon (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) marked her fifth game with two or more service aces to lead the Huskies in that category.
• McCartney recorded a season-best six kills in the contest.

The Huskies conclude their three-game road swing on Oct. 22 as they take on Western Michigan. Action is set to start at 5 p.m. CT in Kalamazoo, Michigan.