If the past is any indication of the future, the Huskie volleyball squad should be on the brink of another tremendous season.

Five seniors and five juniors are returning to a team that posted a perfect 16-0 ledger in the Mid-Continent Conference last year and turned in an overall 33-6 record for the year.

Amy Foulke, Kori Schauer, Nikki Kozak, Becky Ramsey and Amy Vander Meer represent the largest returning senior class at NIU since 1982. All five have seen consistent playing time since they hit the NIU hardcourt in 1990. Also in that time, the five have compiled an 86-23 overall record.

“We are a veteran team. We’ve had the luxury of using practically the same line-up for almost four years,” Head Coach Pete Waite commented. “The senior class is a tightknit group which is determined to go out with a bang and really establish NIU as a top program in the country.

Shelby Snyder, Dana Romans, Joyce Book, Danielle Gerenz and Rita Schultz comprise the junior class that will be counted on if the Huskies are to have any success this season.

Snyder’s setting ability is what the team’s attack will focus on. With two years starting experience already under her belt, Snyder has broken through to become the all-time career assist leader (3,189), single season assist leader (1,600) and holds the record for the most assists in a single match (85).

“Shelby has really proven herself as a starting setter for us over the last two years,” Waite said. “We don’t set numerical goals, but if Shelby keeps this pace up she could rank in the national record books.”

Sophomores Holly Bauer and Tammy Campbell along with freshman Becky Stewart round out the team. Stewart is a product of the same club team as Amy Foulke and is looked to continue the team’s lofty status in the future.

Helping coach Waite on the courtside this season will be assistant coaches Mark Swaya and newcomer Jenelle Lantagne.

Lantagne was a former standout at the University of Pittsburgh as demonstrated by her two time Big East Player of the Year honors and Honorable Mention All-America accolades as a senior.

“She’s really great,” said Vander Meer. “She’s working with the team really well and she knows what she’s talking about having played herself.”

“I expect us to do really well this year,” added Ramsey. “I’m very excited to play with all the good competition we’ll be facing.”

As for the season itself, the squad opens up at home in the Chick Evans Field House with the Huskie Tournament. The two-day event gets underway at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3 and continues on Saturday. The opposition will be provided by Northwestern University, the University of Kansas and Colorado State University.

On Sept. 8, the University of Wisconsin will roll into DeKalb, but the big test that will really set the tone for the season will be the University of California-Santa Barbara Classic.

If the Huskies do well there, it will clear the way for increased national recognition.