When the NIU men’s soccer team plays No. 1 Akron at 7 p.m. Friday, it will experience a first.

For the first time in school history, the team’s away game will be broadcast live on niuhuskies.com.

Bill Baker and Sid Simmons will provide coverage for the team, which has lost just one of its last eight games.

MCCULLAGH AWARDED

For the second time this season, NIU middle blocker Kate McCullagh has been named the MAC West Division Volleyball Player of the Week.

McCullagh averaged 27.5 kills, 14.5 digs and eight and a half blocks in back-to-back stellar performances, as NIU split a pair of matches with Toledo and Ball State.

“That’s great for Kate,” NIU head coach Ray Gooden said. “She worked hard this week and played two pretty complete matches.”

In a five-fame loss Friday night to Toledo, McCullagh posted a triple-double with 24 kills, 11 blocks (one solo) and a career-high 17 digs. It was the first triple-double by an NIU player since Sept. 2, 2000.

McCullagh had a double-double in a win against Ball State Sunday that featured 31 kills. On the season, the junior from Woodstock leads NIU with 486 kills and 101 blocks.

YOUNG GUNS IN TENNIS

The Marquette Invite was full of excellent performances by the NIU tennis team. Freshmen won both flights of singles competition. Brian Livingston won the Flight A Singles title, and David Katz took home the Flight B Singles bracket.

NIU also enjoyed success in doubles as Mark Tate and Livingston advanced to the finals. A championship match never took place since their opponent would have been a pair of NIU teammates.

“Obviously I thought the whole team played well,” coach Pontus Hiort said. “It’s certainly a tribute to our depth to be able to win both the A and B flights in singles, plus dominate doubles.”

XC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Volunteer course marshals are needed for the NIU-hosted MAC Cross-Country Conference Championships Oct. 29. The event will take place at the North Forty course, which is between Anderson Hall and Barsema Hall. It will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Interested parties should contact Sue Hansfield at 753-9544.