“Twice would be nice,” seems to be the consensus around the NIU’s women’s golf team as it prepares to defend its Illinois State University Redbird Invitational title.

The Huskies will travel to Normal this weekend in hopes of knocking off a field of 18. A victory at ISU’s University Golf Course will keep the trophy in NIU’s hands, and an undefeated record intact.

NIU finished first in last weekend’s Iowa State University Golf Classic, where it placed three players among the top ten. Senior Nicole Jeray was medalist with a 151, while teammate Kim Hodge shot a 154 for third. Freshman Shelley Wendels provided a real treat—placing sixth in the competition.

“We are coming off a great win, and I hope we can continue the success,” coach Pam Tyska said. “It’s an easy course to score on and a lot of my girls have played the course and know it well.”

Tyska looks for the University of Illinois and Michigan State University to be towards the top of the finishing list this weekend. “U of I has probably one of the top players in the state in Renee Heiken,” she said. “She could give Nicole a run at medalist honors.”

“Teams will definitely be out to get us,” Tyska said. “And Michigan State is a definite contender because of their depth and experience.”

Jeray will look to defend her title from last year’s Redbird Invitational. She took the crown with a two-day total of 151, while the team turned in a weekend tally of 630.

“This is always a good tournament for us to compete in, and hopefully we can get results similar to last week,” Tyska said. If that is to be the case, NIU should have little problem retaining the trophy and leaving a field of 18, including Tyska’s alma mater ISU, in a state of awe.