With a 13-match winning streak heading into the MAC Tournament at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, NIU volleyball hopes to show the conference it deserves to be the No. 1 seed.

After coming just short last season by losing the championship match to Ohio 3-0, the Huskies (25-5, 14-2 MAC) want a perfect weekend.

The MAC’s 2011 Setter of the Year, Kristin Hoffman, expects big things from her squad in her final attempt to bring a championship banner back to Victor E. Court.

“For my senior year, we have high goals,” Hoffman said. “We have high expectations for ourselves, both personally and as a team. We want to get that bid for the NCAA [Tournament]. It’s been my goal ever since I’ve been a Huskie, and it’s been a dream of our team to get there.”

At the end of last season, NIU saw its spectacular start fade with a dismal finish. Losing six of their last 10 matches last season, the Huskies have been thinking one match at a time while preparing for a rematch with Bowling Green (19-11, 6-10 MAC). NIU came back after dropping the first two sets to defeat Bowling Green last weekend in a five-set thriller.

“It’s good for us to play Bowling Green because they are the most fresh on our minds,” said NIU head coach Ray Gooden. “The scouting report’s not all that extensive because we just need to recall what worked for us last time. It’s important for us to have a good start, play consistently through it and get ready for a really intense match.”

NIU has been fueled by its potent offense all season, but lately its defense has stepped up as well.

Last week, libero Amber Walker was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Week. Walker has helped the Huskies limit opponents to a .214 attack percentage throughout the season.

“We’re very competitive,” Hoffman said. “So as long as we perform our best, we’ll be proud of ourselves. But the championship is our goal and that’s the only reason we’re in Ohio this weekend. We want to be on the winning side come Sunday afternoon.”