Women's Volleyball | September 20
DEKALB, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University volleyball team begins Mid-American Conference play this weekend, hosting Toledo and Ball State at Victor E. Court this Friday and Saturday. First serve for both matches is 7 p.m.
While the Huskies went 2-13 in the non-conference, head coach
Ray Gooden has seen his young team improve week after week.
"Our record is what it is, but we feel there's been a lot of improvement that's gone on since we started in August," said Gooden. "We're excited to have another weekend where we can try to improve. Our offense continues to show improvement with its tempo. I thought we did a solid job serving. Our block has been a positive. There have been things each week where we've seen improvement."
Some of the improvement can be seen in the all-around play of sophomore
Jori Radtke (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson). Radtke has almost doubled her kills and digs per set averages from her rookie season. She had four double-doubles last week alone to give her six for the season. She had two last weekend at the WKU Tournament, including a team-high 13 kills and 10 digs against #22 Washington State. Over the last eight matches, Radtke has averaged 3.21 kills and 2.95 digs per set.
Senior
Meg Wolowicz (Manitowoc, Wis./Manitowoc Lincoln) was named the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 4.95 kills per set in five matches last week. Wolowicz had at least 20 kills in three of those matches, including a career-high 30 against Chicago State on Sept. 11. Against East Tennessee State on Sept. 14, the senior had 20 kills while hitting a season-high .381. Since moving to outside hitter this season, Wolowicz has averaged 4.07 kills per set which puts her second in the MAC.
"A lot of it was just a need to get points from that position," Gooden said about the position change for Wolowicz. "We thought we would try to see if she could do it on occasion, but then we realized the more she does it the better she can be. That's how it's been so far. She's improved every week."
The Huskies begin conference play with three straight matches at Victor E. Court. Since 2010, NIU is 51-13 on its home floor in league play. Toledo comes into Friday night's match with a record of 5-6, having won its last four matches. Senior libero Maurissa Leonard leads the MAC in digs with 6.32 per set while junior Zoe Birnbrich is second in the league with a .364 hitting percentage. Ball State was picked to win the west division in the preseason and is 9-4 to start the 2018 season. The Cardinals have also won four matches in a row entering this weekend. Senior Meg Starling is second in the MAC in blocks at 1.26 per set.
"I feel great that we're at home to start the league. It's not so much that we're starting over, it's we're trying to get better. If we get better, it helps us this weekend against Toledo and Ball State. Toledo has good middles, a real good setter, and a really good libero. Ball State is experienced and they're the defending division champs. They come in with a whole lot of confidence that they can continue and defend that championship."
Friday night's match against Toledo is Avengers Night. Fans are encouraged to come to the match dressed as their favorite Avenger or other superhero. There will be a memorial in honor of the latest Avengers: Infinity War movie at the marketing table and superhero-themed promotions throughout the match. Saturday is 90's night, where fans can dress in fashions from that era and have a chance to get a picture with the team following the match. Music from the 90's will be played throughout the match.
--NIU--
