Heard the one about Pete and Repeat?

Forget the grade school joke about the two boys being out on a boat … NIU’s head volleyball coach Pete Waite would like “Repeat” to stay right next to him this weekend.

Waite and the Huskies (15-3) hope to duplicate last weekend’s undefeated conference play (against Akron University and Cleveland State), when they take on Wright State University and the Crusaders of Valparaiso University, Friday and Sunday.

NIU begins the weekend by packing it’s bags and heading to Dayton, Ohio, where it will meet North Star Conference foe WSU.

The Raiders post a 10-10 season record with a recent 3-0 loss to NSC competitor University of Illinois Chicago which puts them at 0-1 in the league.

“I think Wright State is one of the stronger teams in the conference this year,” Waite said. “They’re a physical team and have good sized players. It’s also going to be a tough match for us since we’re traveling all the way out there and turning around and coming back. We’re going to have to adjust to the traveling.”

If WSU poses a threat than double that for the team from Valparaiso. The Crusaders stand at 1-0 in conference play and 14-8 overall for a second place seating (behind the Huskies) in the NSC. VU is paced by Lori Barton, a 5-8 senior, who averages 3.99 kills per game and a .272 hitting percentage while teammate Karen Kulick backs up the offense with an NSC-leading 4.01 digs/pg.

The Huskies still hold a slight advantage over VU—if not physically then mentally. The Crusaders have yet to see a victory against NIU as the Huskies lead the series 11-0.

But Waite expects Valpo to be a better team this time around.

“Valparaiso is really the surprise team in the conference having just beat University of Illinois-Chicago,” Waite said. “I’ve had the chance to scout them and they seem much more aggressive and confident than they ever have been in the past.”

Besides standing at 2-0 in league play, NIU has found a spot or two of its own in the NSC stat charts. Freshman Shelby Snyder leads all NSC assists with 728 or 11.4 per game, (WSU’s Joani Kirby is the closest runner-up with 659 or 9.41 pg.) while Amy Foulke has the second best blocking average with 1.12 blocks per game.

Overall, the Huskies are not represented at the top of the remaining stat charts—particularly on offense but Waite sees that as a sign of NIU’s balance.

“Since we are so well-rounded, not as many balls go to the same players hit after hit,” Waite said. “Whereas other teams have the same hitters who get a good chance at higher hitting percentages because they get so many opportunities. Our girls are split up quite a bit at the net.

“The bottom line is those stats don’t mean anything,” Waite added. “Wins are going to mean a whole lot more and that’s what we’re counting on.”

Fridays game against WSU is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. while the Valparaiso match Sunday will be held at 2 p.m. at Chick Evans Field House.