With six new players, a new coach and arena to play in, calling the Huskies fresh would be an understatement.

In the past few years, it hasn’t seemed hard for new players to succeed at NIU, as it has produced the last three MAC Freshmen of the Year. Tera Lobdell was honored last season, while ex-Huskie Jenny Bowman took the honor in 2000. In 1999, Jen VonderHaar was named MAC Freshman of the Year.

“As freshmen we have to prove to our teammates that we are loyal and can handle the pressure,” said freshman Marie Zidek. “The upperclassmen have been great, though, and I feel confident around them.”

This year’s freshmen Kerri Royer, Megan Sprangers and Zidek will each look to extend NIU’s streak to four consecutive years.

“Megan Sprangers and Marie Zidek are looking to fight for the libero/defensive specialist position,” coach Ray Gooden said. “Kerri Royer, a setter, will also look for time on the court. They are true freshmen, though, as they are trying to get accustomed to everything which is different for them.”

The Huskies won last season’s MAC championship, and despite losing MAC Player of the Year, Bowman, NIU has added two junior college transfer student-athletes who also have championship experience.

Melissa Benson and Alexis Hofmann both come from Kishwaukee College. At the college, they helped lead the Kougars to a NJCAA Division II National Championship last season.

The last of the newcomers is Jenny Rohren, who transferred from Valparaiso University in order to compete with the Huskies in her last year of eligibility.

“I think that all of the newcomers have worked very hard, and every one of them is a leader in a different way,” VonderHaar said.

The new Convocation Center is another change the players will have to adjust to. The auxiliary gym will be the new home for the volleyball team, who will play its first game there on Friday against IUPUI.

“As we get more accustomed to the new gym, it will develop into a true home court,” said Gooden. “It’s going to be a great environment to play in. With the crowd and the band, it’s going to be an awesome environment.”

Despite all the changes and adjustments the new players have to endure, they all share a winning attitude.

“We want to repeat as MAC champs,” Zidek said. “There is a lot of variety among all of us newcomers, but we are all striving toward the same goal.”