DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University volleyball team plays its final non-conference matches of the season this weekend at the CEFCU Classic hosted by Bradley.
 
The Huskies are coming off a 1-3 week last week. NIU was 1-2 at the Cardinal Classic at Incarnate Word, defeating Niagara in four sets with three-set losses to the host Cardinals and Delaware. On Tuesday night, the Huskies lost 20-25, 22-25, 20-25 at Milwaukee. NIU hit .245 in the match and had one of its best defensive efforts of the season with 51 digs and seven blocks.
 
"We put ourselves in spots where we can make some things happen," said head coach Ray Gooden about the match against the Panthers. "Our serve helped our block and our block helped our defense and everything kind of came together. Those are the things we're capable of doing."
 
"There were things that we trained for, scouted for, and were able to at least identify and try to execute," Gooden added. "There were also moments were we needed another added play or two. That match was probably summed up in 10 plays and if we win a majority of them, we got a chance to play four or five [sets] or even flip the match and win it in our own way. We just need consistent effort so that we can turn those situations into positives for us."
 
Last weekend, junior libero Miranda Karlen (Evansville, Wis./Evansville) reached 1,000 career digs against Delaware. She now has 1,016 digs in 75 career matches. Karlen is averaging 3.84 digs per set this season. The Huskies have gotten a lift in their front row defense over the last five matches from sophomore middle blocker Angie Gromos (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago). During that stretch, Gromos has 16 blocks to average 0.75 blocks per set while adding 27 kills. She set a new career-high with 13 kills and hit .417 in NIU's 3-1 win over Niagara on Sept. 13.
 
This weekend provides NIU one last tuneup before Mid-American Conference play begins next week. The Huskies have had success against both South Dakota and Bradley, winning all three prior meetings against the Coyotes and holding a 14-3 all-time series lead with the Braves.
 
"Everyone's trying to end their non-conference on a good note," said Gooden. "We feel like if we can put it together, we'll put ourselves in a spot where we can not only compete but find success."
 
The Huskies take on South Dakota on Friday, Sept. 20 at 12 p.m. and close the tournament against Bradley on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m.
--NIU--