THE NEED TO KNOWS
NDSU Classic
Sept. 2-3
Fargo, N.D. (Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse)
Friday: NIU (2-1) vs Bradley (2-1), 12:30 p.m.; NIU (2-1) vs South Dakota State (1-3), 4:30 p..m.
Saturday: NIU (2-1) vs North Dakota State (0-4), 12:30 p.m.

THIS WEEK'S KEY POINTS
• Northern Illinois University finished 2-1 in its opening weekend, hosting the NIU Invitational. The Huskies won their first two matches versus DePaul and Loyola in four sets before falling to Iowa in the finale in three sets.
• This will be first meetings with Bradley and North Dakota State since 2012 for NIU. The Huskies played South Dakota State in last year's NIU Invitational.
• Sophomore middle blocker Meg Wolowicz was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Defensive Player of the Week on Monday night after totaling 17 blocks, an average of 1.55 per set, last weekend.
• Wolowicz accrued nine blocks in the season-opener versus the Blue Demons, six solos, and blocked six more total attempts against Big Ten foe Iowa. The sophomore leads the MAC and ranks 20th nationally in total blocks.
• As a team, the Huskies closed the weekend with 37 blocks, recording double-digit efforts against DePaul (15) and the Hawkeyes (11). NIU ranks 10th in the NCAA in total block and blocks per set with 3.37
• Huskies Anna Brereton and Jenna Radtke reached milestone numbers in their careers against Iowa as Brereton recorded her 1,000th career dig while Radtke reached the 300 block mark.
• Head Coach Ray Gooden tied the program's all-time record in wins versus Loyola last Saturday, earning his 266th triumph. With one win at the NDSU Classic, Gooden would pass Pete Waite (1988-98) on the all-time wins list.

NEXT UP
• The Huskies will head to Hawai'i's island of Oahu for the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge, hosted by Hawai'i.
• NIU will take on the host No. 15 Rainbow Wahine, No. 5 Washington and Utah Valley during the tournament.
• It will be Northern Illinois University's first trip to Hawai'i.