NIU’s volleyball team underwent a facelift this off-season, as it now has six new members and a new assistant coach on the team.

The Huskies lost seniors Tenisha Wilkins, Jen VonderHaar, Rena Widboom and Jenny Rohren to graduation.

“I think that was a huge loss losing them,” senior outside hitter Amanda Newlin said. “Wilkins, VonderHaar and Widboom were all four-year starters for us. You can’t really replace that.”

Wilkins will still be with the team as a student assistant.

Also missing from last year’s team are Kishwaukee College’s Melissa Benson and Alex Hofmann. Kerri Royer, who would have been a sophomore setter, went back to her home in Michigan and will attend junior college.

In his second year as a head coach, Gooden went 13-17 overall and 6-12 in the MAC last year. He says there is no such thing as an easy match in the MAC, and that the new additions have a few things to learn.

“In the MAC, it’s different,” Gooden said. “The girls need to learn that the most consistent team usually wins in this league.”

Gooden also thinks that the new blood needs to learn one more important element.

“To hate Ball State,” he said.

Gooden and company won’t have too long of a wait to get their chance against the Cardinals as NIU will face them on Sept. 26 at Worthen Arena.

Ball State is picked to place first in the MAC West and have won the MAC West division crown in three of the last five years.

The Huskies were picked to take third in the MAC West this season.

NIU will return three part-time starters from last year in Tera Lobdell, Amanda Newlin and Brooke Dodson, who all incidently play outside hitter — a team can only have two outside hitters on the floor at one time.

Lobdell led the team in kills (348), kills per game (3.48) and service aces (32) last season.

Sophomore libero Marie Zidek and junior outside hitter Shara Parker also saw time last year and should be able to help the team, Gooden said.

NIU will have some competitive non-conference opponents on its schedule in Northern Iowa, Western Kentucky and Liberty.

Liberty and Western Kentucky didn’t lose any seniors from last year and Western Kentucky received transfer Caron Blotch, from Texas University.

Northern Iowa is ranked as high as No. 8 nationally.

“[Northern Iowa] is a school who is on the same level as us — a mid-major,” Gooden said. “Now they are a perennial powerhouse.”

Despite a tough schedule, Gooden thinks that his team will be fine.

“Our team plays with a lot of excitement,” Gooden said. “When they play in front of a lot of people, they get excited and they play very well.”