Women's Volleyball | November 14

DeKALB, Ill.—The Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball program will conclude the 2023 season on November 15, hosting the Western Michigan University Broncos. The Huskies and Broncos will have their first serve at 6 p.m. inside Victor E. Court.
 
Wednesday night's contest is also Greek Life and Student Life night with post-game autographs from the team. Veterans get in for $2 with their military ID and their families can purchase additional tickets for $2.
 
Western Michigan (27-2, 17-0 MAC) won the regular season in the MAC and is set to host the MAC Tournament, beginning later this week. The Broncos are averaging 14.45 kills per set, 13.57 assists per set, and 16.26 digs per set to lead the MAC in all three categories. Logan Case, WMU's all-time career assists leader, leads the MAC with 11.96 assists per set.
 
Wednesday's match-up will be the second meeting this season between the Broncos and the Huskies (8-21, 6-11 MAC), having met on October 17 in Kalamazoo. The Broncos claimed the first meeting, a 3-0 sweep of the Huskies. The Huskies offense had 40 kills and a hitting percentage of .229 in the first meeting. The Huskies were credited with 40 kills, their eighth fewest of the season.
 
The Huskies last victory in DeKalb came on September 27, 2022, a five-set thriller.
 
Numbers Check
 
Crew Hoffmeier (Louisville, Ky/Assumption) is third in the MAC for digs per set and total digs, recording 4.58 digs per set and 495 total digs this season. Hoffmeier has recorded seven games this season with 21 or more digs, after being credited with 34 digs against Ball State on Nov. 11. 
 
Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy) leads the MAC in total blocks (120) this season and is second in blocks per set (1.07). Atiemo is in the top-10 for highest hitting percentage in the MAC, recording a percentage of .305.
 
Emily Dykes (Winterville, N.C./Ayden-Grifton) is seventh in the MAC for hitting percentage, sitting at .309. Dykes has tallied 205 kills this season, which is third on the Huskies team.
 
The Huskies held Ball State, the MAC leader in blocks per set, to just two blocks on Nov. 10.The Huskies were credited with more blocks than the Cardinals of Ball State in both matches. Ball State and NIU are the MAC leaders in blocks per set (Ball State) and total blocks (NIU).
 
Atiemo is in the top-2 in the MAC for blocks per set, sitting at 1.07 and leads the Huskies with 120 blocks this season.
 
Junior setter Sophie Hurt (Elmhurst, Ill./IC Catholic Prep) eclipsed the 500-career assists mark over the weekend against Ball State. Hurt sits at 513 total assists in her career.