Two days after losing to MAC-leading Ohio, the NIU women’s volleyball team looks to improve its conference seeding this weekend with the MAC tournament 11 days away.

NIU (9-18 overall, 4-8 MAC) begins weekend play at 7 p.m. today versus Central Michigan and wraps up against Ball State at 7 p.m. Saturday. Both games are at Victor E. Court.

The Huskies hold the No. 10 seed for the MAC tournament starting Nov. 16. NIU coach Ray Gooden hopes to win the remaining four conference home matches so the Huskies can have a shot to host the first-round match.

“We have to step up and play good aggressive volleyball,” Gooden said. “We’re going to need balance, be very physical and play really good defense. If we can play good hard volleyball like we did the first two games against Ohio, we can be pretty good.”

NIU has not faced Central Michigan this season, but the Huskies look to avenge their 3-0 loss at Ball State two weeks ago. Central Michigan (6-18, 3-10) is currently the No. 12 seed in the MAC while Ball State (17-6, 10-1) is the No. 2 seed behind Ohio.

“I think we need different players to step up and make points,” Lobdell said. “The ball goes to Kate and I most of the time, but when the other players have chances, we have to execute like we did in Games 1 and 2 against Ohio.”