Women's Volleyball | October 21
DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University volleyball team opens a four-match homestand this weekend as the Toledo Rockets come to Victor E. Court for matches this Friday and Saturday. Friday night's match is set for 6 p.m. with first serve Saturday at 4 p.m.
Tickets for both matches are available at NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). This weekend's matches will be streamed on NIUTube on NIUHuskies.com, the Huskie all-access channel. Subscriptions are available for purchase on a daily ($6.95), monthly ($10.95) or annual basis and provides access to all home NIU Athletics events streamed on the website for the purchase period.
This Friday's match is Cancer Awareness Night, and every fan in attendance will receive a "Beat Cancer" t-shirt. There will also be a poster station where fans can create a poster for why they want to beat cancer. Saturday's match is Mental Health Awareness Day. NIU faculty and staff can get $2 tickets for Saturday's match as well.
NIU (9-10, 3-6 MAC) returns home after playing four road matches over the last two weekends. The Huskies are in the hunt for a Mid-American Conference tournament berth, entering this weekend just one match out of the sixth and final tournament spot.
"Our mission always is trying to make it to the MAC Tournament," said head coach
Ray Gooden. "We just came through a pretty tough road stretch and still have control over our own destiny. What's in front of us right now is a real good Toledo team that's been playing some good volleyball. They have a lot of weapons offensively and play good defense."
The Huskies have gotten a lift offensively over the last few matches from freshman outside hitter
Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central). She led NIU with 23 kills in the Huskies' 3-2 win at Miami on Oct. 9, the most kills by any Huskie in a single match this season. Nedic followed that up with 11 kills in NIU's first match at Ball State last Friday and a match-high 15 the following day. She has had double-digit kills in five of her last eight matches, and is averaging 4.36 kills per set over her last three.
"Nikolette has settled herself into her role and understanding what she can do to her advantage out on the floor," Gooden said. "She just continues to evolve her game and we think the sky's the limit for her."
Toledo (15-6, 6-3 MAC) comes into this weekend on the heels of a 3-1 loss at Ball State Tuesday night. Junior outside hitter Taylor Alt leads the MAC in kills with over four per set. The Rockets lead the MAC in aces (1.71/set) and are second in opponent hitting percentage (.165). Toledo is two matches behind Ball State for first place in the West division.
"They're one of the most physical teams in our league," said Gooden. "Alt is probably one of the hardest hitters in the MAC. We're going to have to battle with them. These are going to be really tough matches, as division matches usually are. We're just glad that it's on our home floor."
NIU is home again next weekend to host Kent State on Friday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. and Ohio on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m.
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