A new conference season could start strongly today for the NIU men's baseball team.

The Huskies (8-7) will begin Mid-American Conference play when they travel to Ball State for a four-game series. The Cardinals were chosen as a preseason favorite in the MAC, but are struggling now with a 7-11 record in the wake of an eight-game losing streak.

"This is a different season when we start [today]," Huskies coach Dave Schrage said. "This is a season where if we're gonna go to the tournament, it starts on this weekend."

The Huskies are coming off their home-opener Wednesday, when they split a doubleheader with Chicago State. Senior Don Rodman pitched a complete Game 2 and picked up the 4-3 win. If NIU wants to make a statement this weekend, it needs similar pitching performances from Stephen Ayers, Steve Hardman, Brad Gavelek and Dan Badgley.

The Huskies' bats also must stay lively. As a team, they currently are hitting .302, compared to the .267 they hold their opponents to. Jason Ciarrachi comes into this weekend's series on a 13-game hitting streak.

However, NIU isn't doing everything it should to reach its full potential, Schrage said.

"We need to make some definite improvements and some changes," he said. "When you're building a program and you have some success, the kids tend to relax a little. It's happened to us. Our biggest change has to be that we play hard all day, whether we're up or down."

After enduring unstable early season weather and a monster non-conference competition, NIU's softball team begins defense of its Mid-American Conference Crown today. The Huskies welcome the Akron Zips (7-10) for a double header at 2:00 p.m.

"This begins the second season for us," NIU coach Donna Martin said. "Everything we've done at this point was just to prepare ourselves for conference."

Two NIU softball players earned individual MAC honors Tuesday, but coach Donna Martin believes the awards represent the team's overall success.

Senior catcher Samantha Knoll was named MAC Player of the Week, while freshman hurler Amy Krahula won Pitcher of the Week recognition.

Martin said the honors typify the improvement of the Huskie team, which went 4-4 last week after starting the season 1-11.

"We played much better as a team and group down in Florida," Martin said. "I think these individual awards are a testament to that."

The Huskies (5-15) hit the ball better, and it showed in an 8-0 shutout of Colgate University when NIU tallied 11 hits. Knoll led the efforts, posting a .481 batting average and tallying 11 runs, 6 RBI, 3 doubles and a home run.

Knoll has developed into NIU's top hitter, tallying team-bests of 22 hits, 15 runs, 6 doubles, 2 homers and 11 RBI. Her .338 season batting average also ranks first on the team.

Martin said the junior provided a much-needed lift, especially after the Huskies struggled at the plate before arriving in Florida.

"Her offense really ignited us," Martin said of Knoll. "It got us starting to hit as a unit. I think we fed off her performance."

After some early-season struggles, Krahula has started to come around, leading NIU with a 2.49 earned-run average. She posted a 0.48 ERA and earned two victories last week.

"Amy has really come on strong of late," Martin said. "She has really been a stabilizing force for us, and she has solidified her standing in the rotation."

Krahula (2-1) shined especially in a 2-0 blanking of Colgate, giving up only 2 hits and 1 walk. Her other victory came in a 4-1 win against Maine on Saturday.

With the signing of Katie Kieffer, the NIU women's soccer team gets a talented midfielder and NIU forward Katie Klaas reunites with a familiar face.

Kieffer, a Rockford Christian Life High School senior and a former teammate of Klaas, signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Huskies next fall. Klaas and Kieffer formed the nucleus of Christian Life's potent offensive attack last spring, when Kieffer dished a school-record 24 assists and Klaas netted 50 goals.

But Kieffer said she didn't choose NIU just to join her old teammate.

"I chose NIU because it was close to home, so I could still have my friends and family watch me play soccer," Kieffer told the Rockford Register Star. "I really liked the school, and the overall program and coach [Frank] Horvat."

Although Kieffer and Klaas formed a one-two offensive punch for Christian Life, Horvat said Kieffer's role probably will be different at NIU. She could play up front with Klaas, but may be needed at outside midfield.

"It's going to be an opportunity for both of them to grow in different ways," he said.

Either way, Klaas still thinks Kieffer will help her no matter where she plays on the field. Kieffer, she said, has good ball control that enables her to shield the ball from opposing defenders. Klaas struggled to put the ball in the net last fall, and believes Kieffer will make it easier.

"I am thrilled," Klaas said. "I think it'll help me because she will be a huge asset as far as giving passes on the ground. A lot of times I have trouble getting passes."

A club soccer veteran, Kieffer not only can distribute assists, but also has scoring ability. She netted 52 goals in three years heading into her senior season this spring, and became acquainted with NIU's campus when she participated in the Olympic Development Program hosted in DeKalb.

The Huskies managed just 22 goals in 19 games last fall. They return three goal-scoring threats in Klaas, Jill Heikkila and Jane Mucci, who sat out last fall with a medical redshirt.

The Huskies also announced the signing of Carry Walker, whom Horvat expects to contribute next fall.

"She's got great distribution skills and reads game well," Horvat said. "She knows how to take away passing lanes. We're counting on her to give us some depth and challenge people for playing time."