NIU volleyball begins spring play this weekend at the Campus Recreation Center in the Salvani Spring Play Date. The annual tournament honors former NIU player Karen Salvani (1998). The Northern Star spoke with setter Kristin Hoffman about getting back into the game after the Huskies lost the championship match of the MAC Tournament to Ohio in the fall.

In her junior season, Hoffman earned a spot on the first team all-conference and became the first Huskie to be named an ESPN Academic All-American. Hoffman led the team with 1,496 assists, ranking second in the MAC and 17th nationally.

Northern Star: So Kristin, did you do anything exciting for spring break?

Kristin Hoffman: I went to six states; it was crazy. It was a lot of driving. I went with Students Today Leaders Forever. It's a regional organization headquartered in Minneapolis. There are different chapters in the U.S. I went with the University of Iowa's bus corps. It's a community service, volunteer, alternative spring break-type trip.

We went to six cities in a week. Each place we did a different service project in the morning and had a little time to explain the town in some of the places. Then we would drive to the next place.

NS: After the final game against Marquette during Thanksgiving break, how long was it before you got back into the gym?

KH: It seems like so long ago now. I want to say we lifted that first week we came back. We played that Saturday and lifted that following Monday. Pretty quick turnover. We also had a few open gyms before winter break, but nothing too serious. [We had time to] get prepared for finals, and finish up the semester with trying to go home and enjoy our family and friends which was nice.

NS: What do you feel is different playing spring ball as opposed to competition play in the fall?

KH: I think spring is a good opportunity for everyone on our team to grow as a player. We get more individual attention because we don't have to focus on a specific team and watch film. Spring is a really good time, especially for the younger players to develop their own skills and gain confidence in themselves.

NS: With the tournament this weekend, what does it mean for the current players to match up against the alumni?

KH: That's one of the most exciting parts of the Savani tournament. We do get to play former teammates and girls who we didn't play with who are quite a few years older. The support they give to our team is exciting. The fact that there are so many of them, more than can even play. They have players sitting on their bench. It's really nice to know they hang around and come back and want to be a part of the program. That is not always common in college sports.

NS: Most importantly, how much trash-talking are you going to be doing across the net?

KH: Probably a lot. Usually we tend to play the alums around the end of the day. Everyone is tired, and we've been playing a lot. Big bragging rights come with that game.