Days removed from a failed upset bid against the MAC’s top squad and a busted winning streak, NIU volleyball hopes to find redemption in the heart of Michigan’s lower peninsula.
The Huskies (8-13, 6-3 MAC) continue their road stretch with a two-match series at Central Michigan University (8-13, 2-7 MAC) on Friday and Saturday in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.
NIU resumes action after suffering a sweep at the hands of Western Michigan University on Tuesday in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Facing another short turnaround, NIU volleyball head coach Sondra Parys emphasized the importance of time management in preparation.
“We just have to be really efficient with our time,” Parys said after Tuesday’s match. “We have to, obviously, rest as well, and, in the practice that we do have, really hit on a few things that we think we need to get better at, and also what’s going to put us in a good position to beat Central.”
UPPER-HANDED HUSKIES
The Huskies dominated the Chippewas in straight sets during their last meeting on Nov. 5, 2022, to give the Huskies a victory on Senior Day.
The Huskies have garnered a MAC-best 178 blocks and are averaging 2.20 blocks per set, trailing only Ball State University.
Junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo sits among the top-10 players in the MAC in both hitting percentage (.338) and blocks (1.04 per set). Atiemo earned a MAC West Defensive Player of the Week nod on Monday for her defensive efforts against Eastern Michigan University last week.
Defensively, junior libero Crew Hoffmeier has racked up 378 digs, second in the MAC and 20th in the country. Hoffmeier’s 4.67 per set rank second in the league and 38th nationally.
THOSE CHIPPY CHIPS
Like their opponents, the Chippewas also bear the stench of defeat following back-to-back sweeps by the same Broncos team that bested NIU.
Central Michigan enters the weekend as one of the league’s top serving units. The Chippewas are third in the MAC in service aces (143) and aces per set (1.81). Graduate student outside hitter Devon Bright is averaging 0.56 aces per set, the second-best mark in the conference.
The Chippewas bring a balanced offensive attack with six players having eclipsed 100 kills on the season. Redshirt sophomore middle blocker/outside hitter Abby Olin leads the way with 140 kills, while junior opposite hitter Krystina Kasson is averaging a team-best 2.72 kills per set.
Sophomore setter Claire Ammeraal orchestrates CMU’s offense with 8.48 assists per set, the fourth-best average in the MAC. Junior libero/defensive specialist Aly Gurtiza is spearheading CMU’s backcourt efforts with 4.11 digs per set, ranking fifth in the conference.
HIGH RISKS, HIGH REWARDS
An NIU sweep of CMU, along with a pair of University at Buffalo losses and at least one University of Toledo defeat, will propel the Huskies to MAC’s No. 3 spot.
If the Huskies suffer back-to-back losses against the Chippewas, and the University of Akron and Ohio University each win a match, NIU would sink to No. 7 in the standings.
Upon the conclusion of Saturday’s match, NIU will complete its five-game gauntlet against Michigan-based MAC opponents dating back to its homecoming series against Eastern Michigan.
The NIU-CMU series kicks off at 5 p.m. CDT Friday at McGuirk Arena in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The second match will play at 3 p.m. CDT Saturday. Streams for Friday’s and Saturday’s matches will be carried on ESPN+. Live statistics for both games will be provided by SIDEARM Sports.
