When I found out I was going to inherit the task of covering the women’s volleyball team, I didn’t know what to expect.

I took a look at the media guide and saw the team had a rather successful season last year, finishing 24-9. I thought to myself the Huskies had a chance at being just as good, if not better than last season.

Well, they were better, much better.

They put me in shock with their performance this season. However, I will say I knew they would be a good team, but did I think they’d be this good? Not really, but what do I know? I’m only a reporter.

Did the rest of the league believe in the Huskies? Definitely not.

Did they believe in themselves? Completely.

Winning 18 straight matches in the regular season, as well as being conference tournament champions, will give a team confidence, and that is exactly what NIU needs going into the NCAA Tournament.

Last Friday, Miami coach Carolyn Condit admitted, after being beaten by the Huskies, that NIU was the best team in the MAC. However, in the preseason rankings, no one gave NIU a vote to win the conference. This was a team that won 24 matches the previous year, but no one gave it respect.

Well, three months later, NIU has gotten respect. It not only won the MAC tournament last weekend, but it didn’t lose a single game, 9-0. No team within the conference had the pleasure to say it had a winning record against the Huskies either. Eastern Michigan, Ball State and Western Michigan all beat NIU, but only once to earn a split.

Confidence has carried the Huskies this season, and they don’t seem to be letting up. After suffering a loss on the last day of the regular season to Western Michigan, which ended its record-long 18 match winning streak, the Huskies came into the MAC tournament and dominated.

Can anyone reading this actually say they knew we had a good volleyball team at the beginning of the season? OK, maybe some people, but this good? I think not.

I have never covered volleyball in my life, yet, after watching a few of the Huskies’ matches this season, I became a fan of the sport.

A few months ago I wrote a column expressing how important the 9-of-10 home matches were for the Huskies. I felt confident in the Huskies and went on to say that for them to gain respect they would need to win at least seven of these games, which I thought they could do. Not only did they make me look smart, but they made themselves look great, as they won every game on the homestand and didn’t lose a single match in October.

Next up for the Huskies will be their biggest challenge of the year, the 29-1 Northern Iowa Panthers.

Should we think they have a chance? Sure.

Should other teams look out for these Huskies? You better believe it.

One thing that we can all be certain of is that the Huskies are for real.

Will a win or two surprise me? Not at all.

They have proven themselves, as they have spoiled the seasons of all the MAC schools who had dreams of playing in the tournament. Now they are ready to move on to the rest of the nation.

Northern Iowa, beware of DOGS!