Football | October 17

DEKALB, Ill. -- The NIU Football team is home once again this weekend as they take on Eastern Michigan at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 21. Women's soccer will also be at home on Thursday, against Ball State before heading on the road and taking on Central Michigan on Sunday. Men's soccer will be at Western Michigan on Wednesday and then at home on Sunday against Belmont. Volleyball has three road games, first on Tuesday, October 17, against WMU. Then they will head to Mt. Pleasant to take on CMU Friday and Saturday. Men's tennis will also be in Michigan as they compete in the ITA Regional Championships in Ann Arbor beginning Thursday, October 19.
 
Football
Saturday, October 21: vs Eastern Michigan, 2:30 p.m. -    ESPN+ |  Live Audio |  Live Stats
 
After it's 23-13 come from behind win against Ohio in last week's Homecoming game, the NIU football team hosts Eastern Michigan this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Huskies forced three Ohio interceptions in the second half last week and scored 16 unanswered points for their second straight win. Junior safety Nate Valcarcel recorded his fourth turnover in as many weeks with his third interception of the year. Quarterback Rocky Lombardi was 15-of-23 passing for 172 yards and a 58-yard touchdown strike to Grayson Barnes. MAC West Special Teams Player of the Week Kanon Woodill made all three of his field goal attempts as well as two point after attempts. The Huskies have won the last two meetings against the Eagles, taking home a 39-10 victory last year in Ypsilanti. A full preview will be on NIUHUskies.com later this week.
 
Volleyball
Tuesday, October 17: at Western Michigan, 5:00 P.M.  ESPN+ | Live Stats
Friday, October 20: at Central Michigan, 5:00 p.m.  -  ESPN+ |  Live Stats
Saturday, October 21: at Central Michigan, 3:00 p.m. -  ESPN+ |  Live Stats

The Northern Illinois University volleyball squad will travel to Michigan this week as Mid-American Conference action continues for the Huskies. The Huskies (8-12, 6-2 MAC) will compete at Western Michigan, who leads the league, on Oct. 17. The Huskies will conclude their Michigan trip, taking on Central Michigan on Oct. 20 and Oct. 21. Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) was named the Mid-American Conference West Division Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday (Oct. 16).  Atiemo recorded 11 total blocks in the Eastern Michigan series, averaging 1.83 blocks per set for the Huskies offense. The Huskies recorded a season-high 15 blocks on Oct. 12. 
 
Women's Soccer
Thursday, October 19: vs Ball State, 1:00 p.m. - Watch  |  Live Stats
Sunday, October 22: at Central Michigan, 12:00 p.m.   Live Video | Live Stats

The Huskies host their final home match of the season on Thursday against Ball State, an important matchup with the Huskies sitting at fifth place in the MAC. On Sunday, women's soccer will travel to Central Michigan in their second to last match of the regular season. NIU has won four of their last five matches overall and won 2-1 at Kent State on Sunday, October 15. In those last five matches NIU has allowed just three goals, with two of those coming on penalty kicks. Tyra King scored her second goal of the season to seal the win for NIU on Sunday, while goalie Sadie McGill has six clean sheets in 2023.

Men's Soccer
Wednesday, October 18: at Western Michigan, 3:00 p.m. -  Live Video | Live Stats
Sunday, October 22: vs Belmont, 1:00 p.m. -  Watch | Live Stats
 
A pair of games await the NIU men's soccer team this week as it travels to Kalamazoo to face Western Michigan on Wednesday before hosting Belmont on Sunday afternoon. With its 1-0 victory over Bradley this past Saturday (Oct. 14), NIU is now unbeaten in its last three games, dating back to a 1-0 win at Marquette on Oct. 2. The Huskies have allowed just one goal during that three-game stretch. Taylor Davis netted the game-winning goal against the Braves, his second of the season, with Sam Divis and Angel Rodriguez providing assists. Rodriguez has recorded points in three consecutive games.
 
Western Michigan comes into Wednesday's game with a 9-1-3 overall record, 3-0-1 in the Missouri Valley, tied for the top spot in the conference. Belmont comes into the week with a 7-4-2 record, 3-2 in league play.
 
Men's Tennis
Thursday, October 19 – Monday, October 23: ITA Regional Championships (Ann Arbor, Mich.) - Tournament Information Page

The Huskies will start their third meet of the fall season on Thursday, October 19, when they travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the ITA Regional Championships. Last time out, Mikael Vollbach won the first two rounds at the ITA All-American Championships in Tulsa, Okla. on Sept. 30 and October 1, before falling in the third round of the tournament. Last season, five Huskies advanced to the Round of 64 in the main draw at the ITA Regionals, including returnees, Iker Gaztambide Arrastia, Christopher Norlin, Cheng En Tsai and Vollbach. The ITA Regionals will be the penultimate event of the fall for the Huskies as they will close the autumn at the MAC Indoor Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich., November 3-5.