The NIU volleyball team returns to Mid-Continent Conference play this weekend.

The Huskies head north today to take on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Fighting Phoenix. First serve at the Phoenix Sports Center is slated for 7 p.m.

NIU will return to DeKalb and then prepare for Western Illinois. The Westerwinds will blow into Chick Evans Field House on Sunday. First serve is slated for 5 p.m. and admission is free.

Tonight’s match features two teams that are indeed headed in different directions. The Huskies come in riding a 13-match winning streak, an 8-0 record in the Mid-Continent and a 17-2 record overall.

“We’d love to keep our record (in the conference) perfect,” NIU head coach Pete Waite said. “First of all we want to host the Mid-Con Tournament, and we want to send the message to other teams that we’re the top dog in this conference and we don’t want to give that up.”

The Phoenix come in tonight having lost four matches in a row and eight of their last 10. They are 1-7 in the Mid-Con and 4-15 over all.

There are, however, a few individual bright spots for the Phoenix. Marie Kaland is among the top players in the conference in blocks per game. Angie Fach is among the leaders in assists per game and Amy Plinska is among the leaders in service aces per game.

The two teams met at the fieldhouse on Sept. 19. The Huskies swept through the Phoenix in three straight sets. NIU also leads the all-time series 6-1.

On Sunday, Western Illinois comes in with a 5-3 record in the Mid-Con and a 7-10 record overall.

Some of the Westerwinds to watch include Kim Phillips, who is among the league leaders in attack percentage, service aces and kills per game; Amy Nesemeler, who is among the leaders in assists per game and Tiffany Redus who joins Phillips in the top 10 in attack percentage.

The teams met in Macomb on Oct. 10 and NIU took the match three games to one. NIU leads the all-time series 13-9-1.

“The last time we played Western, it was a tough match,” Waite said. “We know they have some solid hitters, but we’ve been doing really well at home (nine straight wins since last Nov. 1), so hopefully that will be an advantage.

“I think you could say it’s tough for opponents to play at Evans Field House.”

NIU has its share of players among the conference statistical leaders. Kori Schauer, Amy Foulke and Becky Ramsey are in the top 10 in attack percentage. Shelby Snyder leads the Mid-Con in assists per game and Wendy Mason is among the leaders in kills per game.

The two weekend matches will be a prelude to the Huskies’ big trip to California, which begins next Thursday at third-ranked Long Beach State University.