MELLETTE – As much as milestones are credited to and celebrated by individual athletes, they don’t exist in a vacuum state.

That is, to get 1,000 kills, a hitter needs (at least) one good setter. And to get 2,000 assists, a setter needs (at least) a few good hitters.

So when Northwestern seniors Ella Haven and Brooklinn Halvorson each reached those specific plateaus earlier this season, they were both quick to point their fingers at each other.

“We grew up playing together ever since 3rd grade,” Haven said. “We’ve been playing together for so long. All that time together on the court has really helped us.”

Haven, a 5-foot-9 outside hitter reached the 1,000 kill mark at nearly the same time as Halvorson, the Wildcats’ 5-foot-6 setter, notched her 2,000th assist.

It was about as close to perfect as the two could have dreamed.

“(It was) so amazing,” said Halvorson, admitting that the two had a countdown going as to how many each of them needed. “I know a lot of people who get milestones in the same year and they’re just so happy. When you get to do it on the same night, it’s just so great. So rewarding.”

But teamwork like that doesn’t just happen. It’s literally a decade’s worth of work wrapped up in one microcosm of a night.

And one that almost didn’t happen.

“I never knew I was going to get that far,” Haven said. “When I started out, I was a middle blocker. I didn’t hit the ball that much.”

Haven moved to the outside, however, and her and Halvorson’s connection only deepened, even completing plays as though they’re reading each other’s minds.

“Sometimes I’ll call numbers really funny, and she can’t understand me,” Haven said, “but she always puts the ball where it needs to be.”

Halvorson concurred, noting a lot of non-verbal communication on serve-receive, plus just knowing what the other likes to do.

“(Haven) likes fast tempo sets,” Halvorson said. “That’s the easiest thing for me to set.”

Halvorson also enjoys watching her friend and teammate accomplish something she herself might never be able to do.

“I can’t jump very high, but watching Ella jump and smack the ball is amazing,” she said. “It’s fun knowing I’m the one who got her the ball to do that.”

The two teammates are a big part of Northwestern’s 24-8 season as the Wildcats head into postseason play this week.

But neither is satisfied with that.

The Wildcats are coming off a rare miss at the state tournament after not qualifying last season. That fact stings for both of them.

“Last year not making it, that was kind of a wake-up call,” Halvorson said.

Northwestern will face seventh-seeded Wilmot on Tuesday.

“Practice is definitely getting more intense,” Haven said. “Just going into postseason it’s going to take a lot of focus and determination.”