Already national champions at Kishwaukee College, Melissa Benson and Alex Hofmann are part of the equation to help lead the NIU volleyball team to a similar crown.

As the only two Huskies who have played together before playing at NIU, they have a little bit of an edge because they know each other’s tendencies on the court.

“I know her weaknesses and strengths,” Hofmann said of Benson. “We talk well on the court and we always get each other going. She’s a great player.”

“I can tell if she is up or down on the court,” Benson said of Hofmann. “I know what balls she will take by the net. We just know each other.”

While this is Hofmann’s first year as a Division I volleyball player, Benson played one season at the University of Arkansas before transferring to KC.

Although her tenure at Arkansas was short, Benson was successful as she was fifth on the squad with 185 digs, while serving as the main defensive specialist for the Razorbacks.

“Honestly, I didn’t like the coach,” Benson said. “But I really miss it down there.”

Benson said she is glad to be back with a Division I program, and the competition that her and Hofmann faced in their conference last year was very similar to high school volleyball.

Hofmann has already felt the difference from moving from junior college to NIU.

“You travel more often,” Hofmann said. “School is tougher, and the competition is more consistent. There are better all-around players here at NIU.”

While at Kish, Hofmann was one of 10 players in the country named to the All-Tournament team at the national tournament.

As she set Kishwaukee single-season records for block solos and total blocks, she was also named to the unanimous First-Team All-Arrowhead Conference in 2000 and 2001.

Hofmann, a rangy 5-foot-11 middle blocker, is in the process of switching positions. She is one of six Huskies to have seen action in all 16 matches this season.

She understands that she wouldn’t play as often as an outside hitter this year, so she is playing some middle blocker for the Huskies this season.

“[Hofmann is] very athletic,” coach Ray Gooden said. “She is working on improving her skills to be an outside hitter.”

Benson, a 5-foot-3 ball of quickness, plays the libero for the Huskies. She’s second on the team with 2.8 digs per game.

“She brings energy to our team,” Gooden said. “She is very passionate about the way that she plays defense.”

While Benson and Hofmann are both in their first years at NIU, Gooden expects big things from them in the future.

“We expect them to make contributions the way they know how,” Gooden said. “They will help lead us in the future.”

These two not only played together at the junior college level, but they played on the same high school club team, Club Fusion, their senior year.

“Alex and I are very close,” Benson said. “She is easygoing and we got along from day one. It is nice to have a person that you can confide in and trust. We have a background together.”