This is a big weekend for NIU athletics. Of course, the football team takes on Illinois, but does anyone realize that the volleyball team is playing at U of I, also?

The volleyball team will travel to Champaign this weekend to compete in the Ilini Classic. They will compete against the University of Florida on Friday evening, and against either Illinois or Butler University on Saturday.

This weekend, many of us are heading down to see the football game, but that shouldn’t be all we see. For all students who make it to Champaign on Friday, go and see a volleyball match. It won’t interfere with your party schedule. The match starts at 6:00 p.m.

The women deserve some support as well as the football team. They have worked hard in the offseason and this is a big tournament against quality competition.

Last season the Huskies finished 24-9, and are looking to enjoy even more success this season.

Everyone I’ve talked to this week seems to be really excited about the football game, which is good — I am excited too. However, volleyball also can be fun to watch. I think that part of the reason that people aren’t talking about the volleyball tournament is that no one even knows that NIU is playing at Illinois.

Well, I am informing everyone of this, so that the Huskies can be represented well at the tournament. This past weekend, at our own Best Western Invitational, DePaul had many fans at Chick Evans to support their Blue Demons, and it helped them to a tournament victory.

I am hoping that many students, while in Champaign, will remember this article, and try to make it to the volleyball match. For anyone that is visiting friends at Illinois, and is sitting around bored before the partying begins, go watch an exciting volleyball match.

For all the students sitting there right now reading this article and saying “why should I see the volleyball team?”, here are a few reasons.

One — Volleyball has changed its scoring system and most people have no idea how the game is played now.

Two — The volleyball team is very good and is another one of our school’s up-and-coming sports programs.

Three — Most of you already are going to be down there for this weekend’s football game.

I can’t make anyone do anything, but I feel that if you are already going to be there to root on our football team, why not our volleyball team too?

Not many people are familiar with the Huskie volleyball team yet this season, as not many students were around campus this past weekend to see their tournament.

With that being said, come out Friday or even Saturday after the football game, and see some quality volleyball being played. We need to root on our Huskies and give them the support they deserve.