The NIU volleyball team will take this weekend one step at a time. These constant strides of development are nothing new to the Huskies; it’s something they’ve done all year.

Whether it’s been focusing on an aspect of their offense, team consistency or studying one of their opponents, the Huskies have been taking this season step-by-step.

All the previous steps and strides will need to be summoned at 7 p.m. Saturday at Victor E. Court, as the Huskies will take on No. 22 Ohio (18-2 overall, 8-0 MAC).

The Huskies (11-11, 4-4) have not forgotten their step-by-step mentality though, and they will take their first stride of the weekend by facing off against Kent State (6-13, 2-6) today at 7 p.m.

Coach Ray Gooden feels playing reliable volleyball will be the deciding factor in facing the Golden Flashes, who have lost their last four matches.

“We need to be consistent against this team,” Gooden said. “They are like every team in the MAC, desperate for wins.”

Although Ohio looms in the distance, setter Marie Zidek and the team’s minds are focused on the present.

“We are focusing on Kent State first,” Zidek said. “We’ll focus like it’s the last night of our lives.”

Outside hitter Irene Johnson believes the team’s mental preparation before hitting the court will be a determining factor in who controls the tempo of play.

“I think that everyone has to be mentally prepared before the game,” Johnson said. “We know that both nights are going to be a fight.”

Zidek agrees that this weekend will be a fight for Huskies as they march forward in their season.

“We’re going to see a lot of different things from these two teams as far as their play,” Zidek said. “It’s going to take adjustments on our parts to be successful.”

Although the Huskies will have to play flexible and adapt as they play, they can’t lose their intensity, execution or focus to be successful this weekend.

“I think our level of consistency has to be at our best to match blow for blow against Ohio,” Gooden said. “They have the ability to break teams down.”