An interesting week for Benedictine Athletics lies ahead. Six different sports are in action, volleyball has six matches scheduled between Tuesday and Saturday, and three different sports will take on Northern Athletics Conference foe Dominican. Here are the highlights:
 
VOLLEYBALL (5-8, 2-0)
 
Tuesday: vs. Alverno (7-5, 1-1), 7:00 p.m.
 
The Inferno, who has typically struggled in volleyball, is off to a very good start this season at 7-5. After dropping the first two matches, Alverno won seven in a row before falling to NACC school Aurora on Wednesday. During that seven-match winning streak, the Inferno snapped a 78-match losing streak against conference opponents by defeating Rockford on the road 3-1 on September 10. The team's setter, Meranda Masse, won the NACC's Volleyball Student-Athlete of the Week Award for September 9-15 after recording a school record 44 assists in a win over Finlandia on September 13.
 
Wednesday: vs. Illinois Wesleyan (9-6), 7:00 p.m.
 
A College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin school, Illinois Wesleyan is 9-6 to start the season. The Titans are coming off a successful weekend at the Barker Chevrolet Volleyball Classic, which they hosted. Going 3-1 on the weekend, the Titans defeated Monmouth, Lincoln Christian, and Carthage. BenU and Illinois Wesleyan have three common opponents this season (Chicago, Lake Forest, and Wisconsin Lutheran), with the Eagles holding a better record against those schools (2-1 compared to Wesleyan's 1-2). These two schools last met in 2011, when the Titans defeated the Eagles 3-1.
 
Friday and Saturday: at Illinois-Iowa Crossover Challenge
 
Over the weekend, the Eagles will head up to Wisconsin Dells to participate in the Illinois-Iowa Crossover Challenge. The Eagles will face Coe and Wartburg on Friday and Dubuque and Loras on Saturday.
 
All four schools are members of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Wartburg (7-6), who was last year's conference champion and an NCAA Division III Tournament qualifier, was picked to repeat in the IIAC's pre-season poll. Coe (14-2) is off to a terrific start this season and hasn't lost since August 31. Dubuque (6-5) has faced six different NACC schools this season, going 4-2 in those games. Loras (6-6) has lost five out of the last six matches, but defeated Dubuque to snap a five-game skid on Wednesday. BenU did not face any of the four schools last season.
 
MEN'S SOCCER (1-4-1)
 
Wednesday: at Dominican (3-3, 1-0), 4:00 p.m.
 
The Stars are 3-3 to start the season, but have spent time ranked in various polls in Division III. Dominican has absolutely dominated conference play, winning every NACC title since the conference was founded in 2006. The Stars have never lost a regular season (72-0-2) or postseason (13-0-1) conference match, and were once again picked to win the NACC in its pre-season poll.
 
Saturday: vs. Edgewood (4-2-1, 1-0), 6:00 p.m.

Edgewood currently sits at 4-2-1 and has started to play better as the season progresses. After dropping the first two games of the season, Edgewood is 4-0-1 since September 8 and has outscored opponents 11-3 in those five games. The team also kicked-off the conference season with a 3-1 win over Concordia-Chicago on Saturday. Last season, Edgewood finished in fifth place in the conference and defeated BenU 2-1.
 
WOMEN'S SOCCER (2-5-1)
 
Tuesday: at Dominican (0-5, 0-1), 4:00 p.m.
 
Dominican has yet to win a game this season and has been outscored 14-4 in five games. The conference slate opened up for the Stars on Saturday, as the team fell to Concordia-Wisconsin 3-0. Last season, the Stars defeated the Eagles 2-1 and were the sixth and final qualifier for the NACC Tournament after finishing 7-5 in conference play.
 
Saturday: vs. Edgewood (4-2-1, 1-0), 3:30 p.m.
 
Like the men's team, Edgewood's women's team has gone 4-0-1 since losing the first two games of the season. Edgewood has used strong defense during that streak, outscoring opponents 9-1. On the recent hot streak, Edgewood's Tim Alexander became 17^th NCAA Head Coach to record 500 wins in soccer. Edgewood went 11-1 last season in conference play, earning the two seed before falling to Aurora in the Conference Championship game. BenU fell to Edgewood 2-0 last September.
 
TENNIS (5-5, 5-5)
 
Tuesday: at Dominican (4-6, 4-5), 4:00 p.m.
 
The Stars will be the only opponent tennis will see this week, as the team will be able to take some much needed time off after a hectic schedule recently. This season, Dominican is 4-6, but has won three out of the last four contests. BenU defeated Dominican 5-4 last season.
 
MEN'S GOLF
 
Sunday and Monday: at Wisconsin Lutheran College Invite
 
Next weekend's event for men's golf will take place in Hartford, Wisconsin at Washington County Golf Club. Benedictine had three individuals compete in last season's Wisconsin Lutheran College Invite. Two of those players are on the 2013 team: Steve Chmelovsky (+27) and Tommy Major (+28).
 
WOMEN'S GOLF
 
Monday: at Aurora University Invite
 
On Monday, September 30, BenU will travel to Bristol, Illinois to participate in the Aurora University Invite at Blackberry Oaks Golf Club. BenU also competed in the Aurora Invite at Bristol last season, finishing in eighth place.