With a 5-9 conference record, the NIU volleyball team still has a splinter of a chance to get into the MAC tournament.

“We’re looking to go 4-0 or 3-1 in our last four games,” coach Ray Gooden said. “If we go 3-1, we have a really good chance to get in. If we go 2-2 it would be a stretch, but we still would have a chance.”

NIU will travel to Muncie, Ind., today to take on Ball State (19-7, 14-1 MAC) at 7 p.m. and will have its last home match of the season against Bowling Green on Sunday (8-19, 3-11 MAC) at 3 p.m.

NIU enters Ancient Coliseum facing a Ball State team that has a 49 consecutive home match winning streak against MAC opponents. The Cardinals also have won 16 of its last 17 matches.

The last time Ball State lost at home versus a MAC team was Nov. 15, 1997.

“We have to play a good match against Ball State,” Gooden said. “A lot of teams walk into Muncie thinking that they are going to lose, that is what should energize us. We know what situation we are in and how we need to win.”

The Huskies will say goodbye on Sunday to four of its players on Senior Appreciation Day.

Middle blockers Rena Widboom and Jen VonderHaar, outside hitter Tenisha Wilkins and setter Jenny Rohren will all say adios to their college playing days, which they hope is after a victory.

“I think that it will be very emotional,” Gooden said. “I think that we will all play well for the seniors, we are going to use that emotion to our advantage.”

Gooden said that the Huskies are going to be running the 6-2 offense for the second weekend in a row, which uses two setters on the floor at the same time.

“This offense has a lot of positives when we run it,” Gooden said. “It helps out Newlin and Hofmann a great deal because they get to hit and block more. It allows them to play at the net.”

A win ending Ball State’s winning streak would be the first time a MAC team has defeated them at home in five years to the day. Follow that with a win over the Falcons, and the Huskies may just see the postseason.