With first place of the Mid-Continent Conference locked up, the Huskie volleyball squad will host the Mid-Con Championship Tournament on Nov. 26 and 27.

Depending on the outcome of that tourney, the Huskies could find themselves in a position never experienced before. Winning the conference tourney could be the door that leads the Huskies on their way being a host in the NCAA tournament for the first time.

If the Huskies’ (16-0, 25-4) bid to host the first round is taken, the match will be held on the same day as the women’s basketball game with the University of Southern California on Dec. 1.

Although a scheduled regular season basketball game has priority over a post season volleyball game, head coach Pete Waite said they would take the offer, and play the game in the afternoon.

“We’re trying to have a possible double-header. We would go at 4 o’clock and the women’s basketball team would go at 7:30, and people, especially students, would be here for two great games,” Waite said.

The NCAA decides who will host a post season match by looking at different factors at each school including average attendance, season records, and most importantly, who the team is seeded with in that round, and weather that team submitted a bid to host that round.

Possible pairings for the Huskies could be Illinois State, who averages over a hundred more than the Huskies, and the University of Illinois who averages over 2,000 fans per game.

The Huskies, who had an exceptional year, are not disregarding the fact that they could be offered a chance to host the second round if they win the first.

“We did put in a bid for the second round, but again, it depends who you are seeded against,” Waite said.

“If I had to choose between the first or second round, I’d want to host the second, because the first round usually is the easiest match. Not that any of the matches are easy, but we would want the fan support for the second round,” Waite said.

Because the Huskies have never hosted an NCAA tournament round in volleyball, Waite said that, in the end, he would be happy to host any of the rounds.

“If I had to choose between the first or second round, I’d want to host the second, because the first round usually is the easiest match. Not that any of the matches are easy, but we would want the fan support for the second round.”

Pete Waite

NIU volleyball head coach