A 1-4 record in the infancy of the fall season doesn’t sit well with NIU volleyball coach Pete Waite.

And things will not get any easier for the Huskies as they head out to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. match. Wisconsin is the second Big Ten team NIU will face this year. The first Big Ten opponent was the University of Illinois, who cruised to a 15-1, 15-9, 15-10 victory over NIU.

“The U of I match was probably the best match we played so far,” said Waite. “It was the best, hardest, and most competitive match we’ve played so far and showed what we’re capable of.”

Wisconsin brings a 4-5 record into tonight’s match following a 1-3 finish at the University of Pacific Reebok Classic.

The Badgers are not the Final Four favorite like U of I, but very strong nevertheless.

“They have a real strong team with their recent coach (Steve Lowe), whose done a excellent job, and they should give U of I a tough match,” Waite said.

Although Wisconsin is a tough team, the Huskies don’t plan on rolling over and playing dead.

“We go into every match to win. There’s always a chance and everything is possible. If we go after Wisconsin and play competitive, we have a good chance of winning,” said Waite.

But NIU is struggling with their 1-4 record now and are in a feeling-out process. Their 3-3-1 record, which does not count in the NCAA statistics, in the recent Western Invitational Tournament at California-Davis did not provide any answers for Waite.

“Right now it’s tough to find reasons (to why we’re struggling). We’re just trying to blend in our new players and have the returnees get comfortable at their starting positions.”