DeKALB, Ill. -- Freshman Annie Cave (Easton, Ill./Illini Central) posted a season-best 10 kills and attacked at a .450 clip, but it wasn't enough to lead the Bradley volleyball team to a win as Northern Illinois topped the Brave in three sets 25-18, 25-18, 25-23 Saturday to wrap up play at the NIU Invitational. Cave was named to the all-tournament team after collecting 19 kills and hitting a combined .474 during Saturday's matches.

Bradley (3-7 overall) turned in its most efficient offensive effort of the season, hitting a season-high .221 against the Huskies. Northern Illinois (7-5 overall) was more than up for the challenge, however, as NIU hit .356 in the match and posted a 43-33 edge in digs.

The Huskies led 9-6 in the opening set and seized control with a 6-2 spurt that gave Northern Illinois a 15-8 advantage. The Braves would pull to within five points, but the Huskies cruised to a 25-18 win to take an early lead in the match.

NIU continued its strong play to open the second set, scoring the first six points. The Huskies led 13-1 at one point and pushed the lead to 15 points at 20-5 before the Braves would make a late push. Bradley scored six consecutive points to open a 10-3 BU run that made it an eight-point contest at 23-15. Time was not on the Braves side however, as the Huskies posted a 25-18 win in the second set.

Bradley's offense heated up in the third set, as the Braves hit .306 as a team. With the score knotted at 21-21, NIU's Meagan Schoenrock notched consecutive kills to give the Huskies a 23-21 lead. Sophomore Melissa Collins (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South) countered with a kill to make it a one-point game at 23-22. Schoenrock responded with one of her match-high 19 kills to give the Huskies match point at 24-22. Cave followed with a kill, but Morton, Ill., native Allison McGlaughlin closed things out for NIU with her 10th kill of the game to hand Northern Illinois a 25-23 victory.

Cave led the Braves with a season-best 10 kills and hit .450 on the night. Junior Kaitlyn Comiskey (Crystal Lake, Ill./South) added six kills and nine digs, while senior setter Sam Black (Atalissa, Iowa/West Liberty) contributed five kills and 23 assists.

Schoenrock was one of three NIU players in double figures in kills with a match-high 19 and attacked at .607 clip. Irene Johnson added 11 kills and hit .360, while McGlaughlin finished one dig short of a double-double with 10 kills and nine digs.

Bradley returns to action Friday when the Braves open Missouri Valley Conference play against Creighton at 7 p.m. at Lorene Ramsey Gym.