Under direction of coach Ray Gooden, the Huskies feel they are ready to bump the Lady Liberty Flames off their turf at 7 p.m. on Friday at Victor E. Court in the NIU Convocation Center at the Best Western Inn & Suites Invitational.

“I feel that the team is well prepared for the game against Liberty, and when we come out I hope that we will surprise everyone,” junior Shara Parker said. “We have a young setter [freshman Kelly DeRoo] who still has a long way to go but is doing a great job for the team.”

The game will be the season-opener for both teams. Liberty returns everyone and will return with two new members, freshmen Rachel Denton and Katie Smith.

“Liberty is going to come back experienced,” Parker said. “As a team, our main goal for this game is to have a good, quality win to start off the season.”

“Our team chemistry is a lot better and we are all clicking together at a younger stage than we were at this time last year,” she added. “Last year it was hard because since [team chemistry clicked] later in the season we had to figure out how to win and finish things as we started.”

The Huskies’ four new freshmen are April Hankton, Gina Guide, Kate McCullagh and DeRoo. In addition, the Huskies have two transfers, Corinne Walsh (South Florida) and Megan Markowski (Marquette).

Hankton, an outside hitter, said that she hopes to bring a lot of power to the front row this season. At the same time she wants to learn to be a leader.

“I have always been a quiet player and I want to change that; I want to lead,” said Hankton, a Minnesota native.

Like all the freshmen, Hankton is excited for the game.

“I hope that we kill them,” Hankton said. “Our defense is unbelievable and our coach is awesome so I know that we can do it. We can beat Liberty and it is going to be tough for them.”

Hankton feels very confident about this season.

“I hope that we win the conference championship and I think that we can with our talent and athleticism,” she said. “We have a good, powerful front row and our team is just awesome.”