DeKALB | Despite replacing three seniors with seven new recruits in the off-season, the MAC preseason voters predict that the NIU men’s basketball team will finish second in the MAC West division.

The Huskies are coming of a 17-11 record last year with a MAC division crown.

Returning starters James Hughes, 2005-2006 MAC defensive player of the week, and Mike McKinney will look to lead the team.

NIU earned 158 points and one first-place vote while Toledo was the top choice in the West with 217 points and 34 first-place nods. Western Michigan was projected to finish third, followed by Ball State, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan.

Akron was the top choice in the East Division.

Men’s Soccer getting recognized

The march up the rankings keeps rolling for the NIU men’s soccer team. The Huskies are No. 24 in the nation, and the team is fourth in the Great Lakes top 10.

The Huskies lead the nation with 11 shutouts with one game remaining before the MAC postseason begins.

NIU coach Steve Simmons said his team well deserves the national attention they’re getting.

“It’s always nice for the program and players to get some media attention by the way of national rankings,” Simmons said. “Last year we cracked the top 25 at #22 and it was the first time that had happened in a while.”

Women’s predicted fourth

The votes are in and the NIU women’s basketball team didn’t receive many.

The MAC preseason polls predicted that the Huskies would finish fourth in the MAC West division.

NIU returns its top three scorers in senior guard Stephanie Raymond, who averaged 16.4 points per game, senior power-forward Kristin Wiener, who averaged 12.8, and senior guard Mary Basic, who averaged 7.7.

The Huskies host their first game November 6 against St. Xavier.

Cross-Country MAC championships

After placing in the top three in its last two tournaments, the NIU cross-country team focuses its attention to the grand prize this Saturday: the MAC championships in Buffalo, New York at 10 a.m.

The Huskies are coming off a bye week and the team expects junior Mia Supanich-Winter to run as well as she did two weeks ago at Wisconsin. Winter posted a 19:15 at that race.

Nendick hot

NIU kicker Chris Nendick received the MAC special teams Player of the Week award after last Saturday’s performances against Temple.

Nendick notched 19 points with field goals from 36, 24, 22, 36, and 21.

Nendick ranks No. 18 in the nation for field goal attempts at 54, field goals made with 40, and makes per game 1.8.