The parts have been assigned, the script is memorized, and the opening night is about to begin.

With preseason and “dress rehearsals” behind them, the NIU volleyball team heads into the season-opening Colorado State-Holiday Inn Invitational tournament at Fort Collins, Colo. Friday.

Cal-State University-Fullerton is NIU’s first opponent at noon followed by host Colorado State at 7:30 p.m. The Huskies then wrap up the two-day event with a 5:30 p.m. match against Montana State University on Saturday.

“We don’t have an easy tournament, but I know our level of play is right up there with the others,” head coach Pete Waite said. “Cal-State is coming off a season that wasn’t very good because they’re in a tough conference, and even though Colorado State usually has one of the top teams in the country, they lost some good players last year. So that could really open the door for us.

“Montana is the one I’m least familiar with, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t expecting to see a tough team,” Waite added.

NIU, who has four returning sophomore starters, is not the only team backed by a young but powerful group of players.

CSUF has five returning starters including 1990 Big West Conference Freshman of the Year, Becky Howlett. The 6-4 outside hitter set three school records and finished ninth in the nation in kills per game (4.72). The Titans also boast a starting freshman setter who will make her collegiate debut along with NIU’s Shelby Snyder.

Meanwhile, the host Rams have homecourt advantage but only two starters returning, and MSU returns with its starting setter Heidi Hahn who led the team to a 10-18 finish last year.

According to NIU team captain, Becky Ramsey, NIU is more worried about starting the season on a good note than the teams they will actually be playing.

“I think this tournament is really important as far as the season goes because it’s going to set the mood for the season,” Ramsey said. “If we do well, we can go from there knowing we’re capable of playing good together.”

Waite agrees.

“Win or lose, this is going to be a great learning experience,” Waite said. “The tournament is really going to place us as to what level we’ll be playing for the remainder of the season.”