THE NEED TO KNOWS
GW Invitational
Sept. 16-17, 2016
Washington, D.C. (Charles E. Smith Center)
Tournament Central
Live Stats: GWSports.com | JMU | UT | GWU
Video (GWU match only): Atlantic10.com

SCHEDULE
Friday - NIU (5-4) vs James Madison (7-3), 11 a.m.
Friday - NIU (5-4) vs Tennessee (7-2), 4 p.m.
Saturday - NIU (5-4) vs George Washington (6-4), noon

WHAT'S HAPPENIN'?
• After returning from Hawai'i Monday morning, NIU will travel to Washington D.C. this upcoming weekend, a difference of 4,826 miles. It is the longest mileage turnaround for any team in the country this weekend.
• The trip will also be NIU's first ever to our nation's capitol. The Huskies will face James Madison, Tennessee and host George Washington in the GW Invitational this weekend.
• Since 2002, the Huskies are 10-3 following weekends in which they travel 900-or-more miles under Head Coach Ray Gooden.
• Northern Illinois University squared off against No. 14 Hawai'i and No. 6 Washington in the tournament, pushing the Rainbow Wahine to a deuce set in the opening stanza of the match. The Huskies fell, 26-24, and are 3-4 in deuce sets this season.
• Friday's match in front of Hawai'i's home crowd of 6,000 was the largest crowd the program has played in front of during Head Coach Ray Gooden's 15 seasons at NIU.
• The Huskies defeated Tennessee in 2014 in straight sets during the Iowa State Challenge. Mackenzie Roddy, who went on to earn All-American honors that season, led NIU with 15 kills and a hitting percentage of .483 in the contest.
• All-time against the host Colonials, NIU owns a 2-0 record, defeating George Washington during the Huskie Invitational in 2013 and in 1992 during the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.
• Mary Grace Kelly totaled nine kills while Jenna Radtke hit .500 with seven kills versus George Washington in 2013.
• Leading the Huskies with 2.64 kills per set last weekend, Mary Grace Kelly was named to the Outrigger Resorts Volleyball Challenge All-Tournament team.
• Coming off the bench versus Utah Valley and Washington, Chrystal McAlpin led the Huskies in blocking in Honolulu with seven total, an average of 1.17 blocks per set.
• Four of the Huskies five seniors - Paige Dacanay, Mary Grace Kelly, Jenna Radtke and Lauren Zielinski - played against both GWU and UT.

UP NEXT
• Northern Illinois University and the rest of the Mid-American Conference will open up league play on Thursday as the Huskies will host Western Michigan at Victor E. Court.
• The match will serve at 7 p.m. The clash will also air live on ESPN3.
• Purchase your season tickets today, starting at just $30 for the rest of the season by calling (815) 753-PACK (7225) or by purchasing at the door.