Home Court Advantage

In a near must-win situation for the NIU volleyball team, the Huskies are fortunate enough to have their last two matches of the regular season come at home this weekend. Leading Ball State by one match in the MAC West, NIU gets a chance Friday to claim the fourth-place in the division.

“It’s really important getting a chance to do this at home,” said NIU coach Ray Gooden.

To help out even more, it will be senior day, where the Huskies will honor their two seniors, Laura Baetzel and Mandi Caputo.

“When you’re a senior, an alarm comes on,” Gooden said. “You start thinking, ‘This is the last time I’ll get a chance to do this and that.'”

Making the most

While NIU walk-on freshman Mallory Thompson has not seen any game time this season, she has still been a big help to the Huskies in practice.

According to Gooden, the DeKalb native brings a fresh face to the team, having joined half-way through the season.

“We’ve never had a walk-on make the group before,” Gooden said. “She really brings a fun attitude.”

Healing Huskies

NIU may have been able to avoid serious injuries this season, but it has had its share of small ones. Both defensive specialist Monica Lang and libero Maddie Hughes have missed time lately with lower body injuries.

Fortunately for NIU, those injuries are not long-term, and both are expected to play this weekend.

“We’re getting better,” Gooden said. “You’re never completely healthy this late in the season, but everyone is at a good level.”

While the injuries are not a good thing, they have forced NIU to try some new line-ups, which will help make them a deeper team.