When any starter leaves a team, the coach is obligated to find the best possible replacement to make up for the lost production.

But when a star player who holds almost every offensive record in school history departs, the coach is forced to realign the entire team.

The second situation is the unenviable task NIU volleyball coach Ray Gooden has faced since Tera Lobdell finished her four-year run with the Huskies last year. Now with a young team, a new setter and a new focal point on offense, the Huskies are in the process of finding the right person to fill Lobdell’s shoes.

“It’s so tough to lose such a central part of the offense,” the fourth-year coach said. “But we need to spread the offense around. We need more than one person to lead the team. Good teams have multiple scorers who can put up big numbers.”

As the NIU season and career record-holder in kills and attempts, Lobdell was the central scoring force for the NIU offense her entire collegiate career. The stress now is on the young crop of outside hitters to contribute immediately to a revamped offense. Lobdell said the team needs to diversify beyond one individual to be successful.

“I believe the offense should be spread out so then you can surprise the blockers with different looks,” she said. “In the past it wasn’t like that.”

Sophomores Laura Baetzel and Amy Ward, along with freshman Irene Johnson compose the three-headed attack at the corners. A constant rotation of bodies has divided up the playing-time between the trio, and the pressure of a go-to scorer has shifted to junior middle blocker Kate McCullagh.

“We knew we had big shoes to fill,” Baetzel said. “But now we’re connecting better with the new freshman setter [Jenny Dziubla]. Kate is leading the offense now, and we’re trying to make up ground at our positions. It helps to switch up the offense.”

With a conference record of 713 kills and 5.80 kills per game in her senior campaign, Lobdell was one of the top five scorers in the nation. In her absence, Baetzel, Ward and Johnson have combined for 204 kills and average 4.66 kills per game at the season’s midway point, but Gooden insists bigger numbers will come with time.

“They’re very young and inexperienced still,” Gooden said. “There is progress being made. Laura and Amy are doing well early in the season and getting confidence. When people notice their level of success and are out in the forefront is when they will have arrived.”

For the first time since her early childhood, Lobdell finds herself on the coaching bench rather than the playing floor. While she is finishes her degree this year, the Minnesota-native is the team’s official student assistant and regularly practices with them. Her advice on technique and awareness has not been lost on the outside hitters.

“She has helped a lot,” Johnson said. “She’s always helping us with our strengths and weaknesses and showing us techniques to be successful.”

With 17 games remaining and a five-game home stand in mid-October, the progress of the outside hitters will be on display to the home crowd at Victor E. Court. Lobdell believes the Post-Tera era seems on the right track.

“I think it gives girls an opportunity to show what they can bring to the team,” Lobdell said. “One person can’t win a game. A balanced offense will always win in the end.”