Early in the season, NIU volleyball coach Ray Gooden always looks for consistent improvement from game to game.

But as NIU (2-1) heads to Illinois State (0-3) for their first away match of the season at 7 tonight, make no mistake, improvement isn’t enough.

Gooden wants a win.

“It’s a big in-state rivalry we’ve been playing for years,” Gooden said. “It’s a match we know they want to win and we’d like to have it for our first away victory.”

The Huskies are coming off a 2-1 Comfort Inn and Suites Invitational effort. NIU won its first match against Eastern Kentucky and its last to Western Illinois, but lost to St. Louis, the eventual champion.

After this weekend, Gooden said he is looking for improvement on overall consistency and energy on the court.

And for Gooden, tonight’s game looks like a perfect opportunity to improve.

ISU is coming off three straight losses this weekend against Illinois, UW-Milwaukee, and Winthrop in the State Farm Illini Classic.

But despite having no wins, the Redbirds have two talented players in junior middle blocker Kari Staehlin and sophomore setter Erin Lindsey.

Staehlin was a second-team All-Missouri Valley Conference pick last season after ranking third in points per game, fourth in kills per game and fifth in hitting percentage. Lindsey was the 2005 MVC Freshman of the Year after ranking 21st in the nation in set assists per game.

“They’re very competitive,” Gooden said. “It’s great for us to battle against them.”

This season’s match against the Redbirds is a little different from ones in the past, though. While many of these rivalry matches come later in the season, this one is right at the beginning.

“It loses it’s luster because it’s usually scheduled in the conference season,” Gooden said.

But Gooden is still looking forward to the match as he sees it as a chance to get accustomed to an away atmosphere before NIU heads to Columbus, Ohio, for the Buckeye Invitational this weekend.

“It’s good to have an away match before Columbus,” Gooden said. “Every match helps towards our goals.”