Women's Volleyball | October 28

DeKALB, IL – The Northern Illinois University volleyball team hosts the Kent State Golden Flashes and Ohio Bobcats this weekend in a pair of key Mid-American Conference matches at Victor E. Court.
 
The Huskies host Kent State Friday night at 5 p.m., with first serve Saturday against Ohio set for 6 p.m. Saturday's match will also be broadcast on ESPN3. This weekend is Huskie Halloween Weekend. Fans that come to either match this weekend in costume can receive a $2 ticket. On Friday night, fans can also use their ticket for free admission to the NIU women's basketball exhibition at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at NIUHuskies.com/MyHuskies and by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at (815) 753-PACK (8225).
 
NIU (10-11, 4-7 MAC) enter the weekend one win behind Kent State for sixth place in the Mid-American Conference with six teams qualifying for the conference tournament. Ohio is in fifth place with a 6-5 league record. The Huskies split two matches against Toledo last weekend, winning the opener 3-1 last Friday with the Rockets winning Saturday's match 3-0.
 
"We knew this league was going to be competitive from top to bottom," said head coach Ray Gooden. "There are a couple of teams that have set themselves apart at the top, and then there's everyone trying to catch up. We're in that group and we need to handle more of what's in front of us than what's around us. As we move toward November, we're trying to put it all together and be as consistent as possible."
 
Freshman libero Francesca Bertucci (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) was named the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, becoming the fourth Huskie this season to earn a conference weekly honor. Bertucci averaged 5.29 digs per set last weekend against the Rockets. She had a match-high 26 digs in last Friday's 3-1 win over Toledo, her sixth match this season with at least 20 digs. Bertucci is sixth in the MAC in digs at 4.34 per set.
 
"Frankie has a great ability to keep plays going for us," Gooden said. "We have some good bumpers that do a really good job with the first contact as far as serve receive goes, but Frankie saves plays. For her being a first-year player, there are many times when she plays like a veteran. She, along with the rest of the bumpers, have done a solid job of anchoring that position. It's nice to see Frankie and our group get the recognition from the coaches this week."
 
Kent State is 10-13 on the year and 5-6 in MAC play. The Golden Flashes have won four of their last six matches after splitting a series against Buffalo last weekend. Ohio is 6-5 in league play and have won five of its last six matches. Libero Sam Steele is second in the MAC in digs per set at 5.05.
 
Following this weekend's matches, NIU goes on the road next weekend for two matches at Akron.
 
--NIU--