DeKALB | After winning at Ball State for the first time in 14 years, the NIU volleyball team has a four-game MAC West lead.

Off to its best conference start since 1997, a main reason for the team’s success is the play of sophomore outside hitter Irene Johnson.

The Schaumburg native had 16 put-aways and the MAC’s season-best .667 hitting percentage in Saturday’s triumph over BSU.

Taking some time to cool down after her recent hot play, “Ice” sat down to chat with the Northern Star about her success and what it means to be in “her zone.”

NS: This has been a break-out year for you. Have you done anything drastic in the offseason to help improve your game?

IJ: Nothing drastic. Last spring I was able to have regular spring workouts with the team, so that helped a lot.

NS: Only being a sophomore, are you surprised at how much you have contributed to the success of the team?

IJ: I was hoping to make bigger contributions this year than I did last year. It’s not a surprise, it’s just a goal I wanted to accomplish.

NS: Are there any game-day rituals that help you prepare for the game?

IJ: Katie Walsh and Mandi Caputo always say I’m in “my zone” because they think I’m really quiet before games, but I don’t notice it. So they always try to joke around with me and get me to talk more.

NS: So have they given you any nicknames during the season relating to that?

IJ: Well, my dad always called me “Ice,” and that has been picked up by the rest of my teammates.

NS: Coach Gooden said the game Saturday at Ball State was your best performance as a Huskie. How do you follow up a game like that?

IJ: I felt really good playing that game, but I’ll keep doing what I can and hopefully there is better to come.

NS: With the success of the team, have you and your teammates built up any type of swagger heading into Kent State on Friday, and MAC powerhouse Ohio on Saturday?

IJ: We don’t really look ahead. We go into every game with the same attitude and just see what we can do. Hopefully we’ll keep coming up on top.