DEKALB, Ill. -- The Northern Illinois University volleyball team returns home for the first time in 17 days on Friday, Sept. 29, when the Huskies host Eastern Michigan in their Mid-American Conference home opener. NIU will also welcome Central Michigan to DeKalb on Saturday night, Sept. 30; both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday night is MVP Professor Night while Saturday is Camp Reunion Night. 

The Huskies began MAC play last week as they traveled to Western Michigan and Bowling Green. NIU (1-16, 0-2 MAC) fell in four sets to the Broncos in Kalamazoo before being outlasted by Bowling Green in five. 

Freshman Kaylee Martin (Sterling, Ill./Sterling) recorded 34 kills, while hitting .300, with 36 points last Saturday at Bowling Green. Martin's 34 kills against the Falcons were the most for a Huskie since Lauren Wicinski tallied 39 on Oct. 1, 2011 in a 3-1 victory over Toledo. Martin also posted 20 digs against Bowling Green for her second double-double of the season. Marin currently ranks sixth in the MAC with 3.45 kills per set. 

As a team, NIU had 104 digs against Bowling Green, the most for the Huskies in a match since tallying 107 against Miami on Nov. 21, 2015 in the MAC Tournament Semifinals. Four Huskies reached double figures against the Falcons, led by 25 each from senior Anna Brereton (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) and freshman Miranda Karlen (Evansville, Wis./Evansville). Brereton's 25 digs was a season-high with Karlen's 25 was a career-best. Kaylee Martin also posted a career-high 20 digs against Bowling Green. 

Eastern Michigan comes to DeKalb with a 9-9 overall record, 1-1 in the MAC following a victory over Toledo and a setback against Ball State last weekend. The Eagles lead the MAC in blocks, averaging 2.47 per set, and also rank second in opponent hitting percentage, holding foes to just .167. Eastern Michigan's Kelly Ferguson leads the conference in both hitting percentage (.399) and blocks (1.12 per set). 

Central Michigan enters the weekend with a 9-5 record, 1-1 in the MAC, and visits Western Michigan on Friday night before coming to NIU. Jordan Bueter of the Chippewas leads the conference in kills per set (4.47) and service aces (0.43 per set). Central Michigan also leads the league in assists with 12.31 per set. 

Following this weekend's home matches, the Huskies will return to the road as they visit Toledo on Friday, Oct. 6, and Ball State on Saturday, Oct. 7, to open a four-match road trip.