Women's Volleyball | October 16

DeKALB, Ill.—Beginning a three-game road swing, the Northern Illinois University Huskies volleyball team (3-13, 1-5 MAC) head to Michigan for a series of games beginning on October 17.
 
The Huskies will take on the Eagles of Eastern Michigan University on October 17 before traveling to the Central Michigan University Chippewas on October 18. Both games are set to start at 5 p.m. CT.
 
Eastern Michigan Preview
 
Eastern Michigan enters the weekend with a record of 11-10, 5-2 in MAC play. Heading into this weekend's series, the Huskies hold a 42-29 series lead over the Eagles. The Huskies claimed the 2023 meeting of the Eagles, a pair of 3-0 sweeps. The Huskies have won the last four meetings between the squads, including a pair of 3-1 victories in Ypsilanti in 2022.

Looking at the stats, Kaili Doctor leads Eastern Michigan with 2.78 kills per set. Ava Siefke leads the team with 26 service aces, an average of .32 per set.

On the defensive side of the net, Hannah Blaney leads the team with 4.31 digs per set. Hannah Welker leads the team with 87 total blocks this season, an average of 1.34 per set. Angel Baylark leads Eastern Michigan with 1.43 blocks per set.

Central Michigan Preview

Central Michigan holds a 14-5 and 5-2 MAC record as they enter this weekend's action. Before Friday's match, the Huskies hold a 44-30 series lead over Central Michigan. Central Michigan claimed the 2023 meetings a 1-3 and 0-3 loss for the Huskies.

Peeking at the stat sheet, Natalia Rejment leads CMU at the net with 2.73 kills per set with a total of 205 kills this season. Rejment leads the team with 25 service aces, averaging .33 per set.  Allie Korba leads the team with 7.70 assists per set, sitting in fifth in the MAC for assists per set.

On the defensive side of the net, Hannah Langton leads the team with 4.48 digs per set. Grace Thomas leads the team in blocking with 71 blocks this season, an average of .96 per set.

Conference Stat Leaders

Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hill Mercy) is seventh in the conference in terms of hitting percentage, sitting at .325.

Ella Strausberger (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) is No. 10 in the league for assists per set, sitting at 6.03.

Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West) is fourth in the MAC for aces per set at 0.39 and total aces with 25.

Crew Hoffmeier (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) leads the Huskies and the MAC with 5.17 digs per set. Hoffmeier is No. 3 for total digs with 331 digs this season and ranks in the top-10 in the nation for digs per set.

Huskie Notes

With 27 combined kills in the last week's action, Atiemo is now 65 kills away from reaching 1,000 career kills. If she surpasses that milestone, she will be the 23rd Huskie to do so.

Nazli Güvener (Ankara, Turkey/Elvankent Sinar), Atiemo, and Grevengoed lead the Huskies offensively. Güvener leads all Huskies with 3.11 kills per set, for a total of 168 kills this season. Grevengoed's 167 kills to lead the Huskies with an average of 2.92 per set. Atiemo rounds out the top-3 with 2.72 kills per set and 174 kills this season.

Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) leads the Huskies with the block, averaging .71 blocks per set. Alvin and Atiemo have a combined 80 blocks this season as the Huskies have recorded 103.