When the NIU volleyball team faces Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. today, it will be more than just the first road match of the season for the Huskies.

The opening match of the three-team Virginia Tech Fall Invitational, between the Huskies and Hokies, will be a clash of Markowskis.

Sisters Megan (NIU) and Melissa (Va. Tech) Markowski will face off for the first time in their collegiate careers.

“I’m really excited; it’s going to be interesting,” Megan Markowski said. “We’re going to have our family there, which will be nice.”

Joining the Hokies (6-6) and the Huskies (8-1) will be Cleveland State (9-4). NIU coach Ray Gooden knows the first road trip of the season will be different, especially for the freshmen.

“It’ll be a new and a fun experience for the new players,” Gooden said. “Virginia Tech made it to the semis of the Big East Tournament last year, so they’re a solid team. If we play good, solid volleyball, we’ll put ourselves in a good position to win.”

Megan Markowski, who transferred to NIU from Marquette last spring, has looked forward to the match against her younger sister. It will be the first time the two have faced each other since they played club volleyball back home in Glen Ellyn.

Melissa Markowski was one of two Hokies to play in all 118 games last season. She finished with 1,423 assists, good enough for the third-best season in Hokies history.

Along with Markowski is Hokies top returner Annie Spicer, from Barrington. Spicer had a 2.96 kills-per-game average and finished with 369 digs a season ago.

If the Huskies want to win their third tournament of the season, they’ll have to put an end to the Hokies’ seven-match home winning streak, which dates back to last season.

Cleveland State will take on the Huskies at 10 a.m. Saturday.