DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University volleyball team opens Mid-American Conference play this weekend when the Central Michigan Chippewas and Eastern Michigan Eagles come to Victor E. Court. First serve on both Friday and Saturday nights is 6 p.m.
 
Friday's match is Greek Night and the NIU Silverettes will perform. Saturday is Girls and Women In Sport Night. All youth-aged girls that wear a uniform or jersey to Saturday's match will receive free admission with their parents getting a discounted $2 ticket for the match. They will also be able to get an NIU Volleyball t-shirt while supplies last.
 
The Huskies wrapped up the non-conference portion of the season last weekend at the CEFCU Classic, hosted by Bradley. NIU dropped both of its matches to South Dakota and Bradley to move to 3-11 on the season. If last season is any indication, MAC play is where the Huskies find their stride. In 2018, NIU went 2-13 to start the year before winning its first three conference matches against Toledo, Ball State, and Western Michigan.
 
"We have some different personnel, namely having two young outside hitter, so there was a lot of stuff we had to learn," said head coach Ray Gooden about the non-conference season. "As a staff, we agree that there are parts of it where we saw some promise. The biggest thing for us right now is just being able to put it together for long enough periods of time to find success."
 
Junior libero Miranda Karlen (Evansville, Wis./Evansville) has contributed from both the back row and the service line this season. Karlen is fifth in the MAC in service aces with 0.38 per set. She has had at least one ace in seven of the last eight matches, and eight in the last five matches. Karlen is also ninth in the MAC in digs at 3.82 per set. Kennedy Wallace (Kansas City, Kan./Piper) continues to lead the NIU offense, averaging 2.86 kills per set. Last week, Wallace averaged three kills per set and hit .292.
 
Central Michigan enters the weekend with a record of 10-2. The Chippewas have won their last five straight matches after going 3-0 at the Youngstown State Red & White Invitational. Six of Central Michigan's 10 wins have been sweeps. The Chippewas lead the MAC with an opponent hitting percentage of .156. Eastern Michigan won the MAC Tournament last season and enter this week with a 5-7 record. The Eagles lead the conference in blocks with 2.18 per set. Cassie Haut is among the top-five in the league with 3.21 kills and 1.07 blocks per set.
 
"Central's historically been very physical and this year is no different," Gooden said. "We feel if we can keep ourselves in system, it bodes well for us as far as keeping their blockers at bay. Eastern has probably one of the more prolific players in the league in Cassie Haut. They're pretty confident in how they play. We have to do a really good job of not only being physical, but smart with our attack."
 
Following this weekend's quick homestand, NIU goes on the road next weekend to face Ball State and Toledo.
 
--NIU--