Northeastern vs. College of Charleston
Northeastern will kick off Colonial Athletic Association play against newcomer College of Charleston in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. CofC was the only team selected higher than the Huskies in the CAA preseason poll.
Northeastern vs. UNCW
The Huskies and Seahawks are familiar conference rivals as the two teams have faced each other 13 times since Northeastern joined the CAA in 2005. NU owns the upper hand with a perfect 13-0 mark, including five total sweeps.
Last time out against UNCW
NU added to its then 13-game winning streak when it defeated UNCW, 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-21, 25-14), at Cabot Center on Sept. 28, 2012. Kelly Bacon, Janelle Tucker and Jillian Briner recorded double-doubles while Natalia Skiba led the team with 18 digs, surpassing 300 digs on the season. As a whole, the Huskies hit for .358, the second best team hitting percentage of the 2012 season.
Scouting the Cougars
The Cougars have so far lived up to their top rank in the CAA preseason poll with a strong 10-4 start. They are coming off a 1-3 home loss against Ball State in the closing match of the College of Charleston Classic. The Cougars went 2-2 while hosting the tournament. Most of the damage to opponents has come from senior outside hitter Darcy Dorton, who leads the team with 140 kills (3.11 per set). Redshirt junior setter Kallie McKown has chipped in 256 assists (5.69 per set).
Scouting the Seahawks
UNCW has overachieved so far this season after its last place rank in the CAA preseason coaches poll. The Seahawks have gone 11-3 this season and are riding a hot streak as they roll into Boston. They are on a three-game winning streak after going undefeated at the Winthrop invitational, and have taken seven of their last eight matches. UNCW has been led by senior right side Christi Laite's 181 kills (3.48 per set) with help from sophomore setter Victoria Phillips' 271 assists (7.13 per set).
Conference kick-off
Friday's game against the Cougars will kick off conference play for the Huskies, as Northeastern stands fifth in the CAA rankings. CAA teams have compiled an impressive 29-8 combined record this season when playing at home.
Chart toppers
Libero Natalia Skiba leads the CAA in digs for the fourth week in a row and ranks third overall in the NCAA. The junior has recorded 339 digs so far this season and leads the conference by an overwhelming total of 42. Kelly Bacon ranks second in the CAA with a 3.51 kills per set average and fourth in the league for total points. Middle blocker Nichole Kurz falls third on CAA performance chart with her impressive .299 hitting percentage. Setter Ina Kamenova ranks fifth for total assists, tallying 5.78 assists per set.
Mr. 300
Now in his 17th year as a head coach, Nichols owns a 302-198 career record, including a 249-158 record in 14 seasons at Northeastern. Nichols' 300th win came when the Huskies defeated Boston College, 3-1, on Friday, Sept. 20.
Sizzlin' Bacon
Kelly Bacon recorded a career-high 24 kills in Northeastern's victory over St. John's last Sunday, Sept. 22. Bacon added 12 kills and three total blocks to her show against the Red Storm, marking her eighth double-double of the season. The senior's performance earned her CAA Offensive Player of the Week (Sept.23), her first conference weekly honor of the season.
Comfort at Cabot Center
NU kicked off the 2013 season backed with a 19-game home court-winning streak. Northeastern's victory against St. John's extended the streak to 23 as NU looks to continue the stretch this weekend. The Huskies have not lost a home match since Sept. 30, 2011, against Delaware. The Huskies were the only team throughout the entire CAA to defend home court with an unblemished 11-0 mark in 2012.
Home sweet home
This weekend's matches against CofC and UNCW will conclude Northeastern's five
game home stand.
Back-to-back 20-win seasons
Northeastern finished 20-7 last season, marking its second-straight 20-win season. Since rally scoring came into play, the only other time the Huskies won 20 outings back-to-back was in 2003 and 2004. Ken Nichols is the only coach in program history to accomplish that feat.
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