NIU outside hitter Tera Lobdell remembers the last time the Huskies played Ball State University. It was the MAC Championship and Lobdell contributed 19 kills to propel NIU to the MAC crown.

The Huskies and Cardinals will kick off conference play at 7 p.m. today in Victor E. Court.

“Ball State lost a lot of players from a year ago,” said Lobdell, who leads the Huskies with 3.3 kills per game. “We also have six new players. So, it’s a lot different from a year ago, but we know the game will be intense.”

NIU and BSU both are pursuing the MAC title, which is said to be there for the taking.

“Everyone has to play well for us,” NIU coach Ray Gooden said. “It’s said to be as wide open as the conference has ever been. We need to play at a high level to see how good we are.”

The Cardinals haven’t had much success recently in DeKalb, as they have been winless since 1989. The all-time series favors the Huskies 16-15.

Each team has offered some rough competition thus far. NIU played two ranked opponents while BSU faced four.

Last season, NIU dominated the conference as it finished 18-3. One of its three losses came at the hands of Ball State in Muncie, Ind. Ball State finished second in the conference.

With the MAC not getting the recognition that former NIU head coach Todd Kress thought it deserved, Ball State didn’t make the NCAA tournament after losing to the Huskies.

Both sides are motivated. Ball State wants revenge and NIU wants to prove that it is still the team to beat in the MAC.

“There is so much already there with the rivalry,” Gooden said. “Last year we beat them here for the MAC Championship. So many things are already here to make for an intense match.”