DeKALB | Facing an opponent when you’re up and they’re down doesn’t always happen.
That’s the situation the NIU volleyball team (7-6) looks to capitalize on as it squares off against the DePaul Blue Demons (1-10) tonight in Chicago.

The Huskies lead the all-time series 13-4 and have momentum on their side, having won five of
their last six matches. They will travel to McGrath Arena to face the DePaul team in the midst of a six-game losing streak.

When asked if he thought the contrasting streaks would give his team an advantage, head coach Ray Gooden replied simply “No.”

“Last year we played them and they were zero for the season, I think they were 0-6 or something like that coming into our match,” Gooden said. “The records don’t mean anything when you’re playing against another rival, an in-state rival.”

The rivalry certainly means something this year, as the Huskies look to improve their 1-3 road record and the Blue Demons represent NIU’s final tune-up before they dive into conference play
.
“I think it’s important for a variety of reasons,” Gooden said. “Beating DePaul helps us, our team, end our non-conference season really positively. Going into conference it’d be positive, so there are a lot of positives from it, not just the record.”

NIU will need its strong defense to counter a DePaul attack featuring junior outside hitter Sara Cullen and sophomore middle blocker Jacie Fiedler, who lead the team with 157 and 130 kills, respectively.

Fiedler has been the most efficient attacker on the team, recording a .332 attacking percentage on the season.
The Blue Demon offense is anchored by sophomore setter Christy Landschoot, who has averaged 9.56 assists per set, for a total of 430 on the season.

The Huskies will counter with a potent three-pronged attack backed up by great depth off the bench. NIU will look to players like seniors Jody Hardwick and Maria Benitez to provide a spark both on defense and in the serving game.

“What we have to do is really make it a serve-and-pass battle again,” Gooden said. “Hopefully our serving can put them under pressure so they can’t run it to their big guns as often as they like.”

Leading NIU’s offense will be junior outside hitter Meagan Schoenrock and freshman outside hitter Allison McGlaughlin. Schoenrock ranks second in the nation in kills per set with 5.05, good enough to lead the MAC. Setting it up for them will be junior setter Amanda Tadla, who ranks second in the MAC in assists per set, with 10.83.

“I think we can give them a lot of different looks if we need to,” Gooden said. “As far as who we have to put in defensively as well as offensively, it’s nice to have more players who are capable of doing it.”

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