DeKALB | The NIU volleyball team looks to continue their reign over the MAC West this weekend by facing the only two remaining division opponents.

The Huskies (12-6 overall, 5-1 MAC) will be away for both matches, facing Toledo today at 6 p.m. in Toledo, Ohio and Ball State on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Muncie, Ind.

“Going in, we’re not concerned with records,” head coach Ray Gooden said. “Both teams are capable of playing good volleyball. Especially at home.”

First on NIU’s radar is Toledo (5-14, 2-4). The Rockets’ lineup features two potent outside hitters in senior Kate Bean and junior TaNeisha Winters.

Both hitters rank in the top-10 in the MAC in kills per game with Bean in second with 4.38 and Winters in eighth with 3.53. Bean also ranks third in the MAC in points per game with 4.76.

NIU then travels a state over to face Ball State (6-12, 3-3). The Cardinals rank in the bottom third of MAC statistics in four categories. BSU is second to last in hitting percentage and third to last in assists and kills. Both Toledo and Ball State rank in the bottom third in opponents’ hitting percentage.

Despite the statistics, Gooden isn’t looking for any drastic transformation of the offense, just consistency.

“Last weekend, there were times we were consistent and times we were inconsistent,” Gooden said. “If you give a team a chance, they’ll take it.”

Andrew Hansen is the Sports Assistant Editor for the Northern Star.