OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University volleyball team has a split week as it is home for one match and on the road for the other. It starts on Thursday as the RedHawks host rival Bowling Green at 7 p.m. That match will air live on ESPN+. Miami then travels to Northern Illinois Saturday for a 7 p.m. first serve. That contest will be streamed on NIU All-Access.

PARKING ADVISORY THURSDAY: Fans should note that there will be additional traffic in the Millett Hall West Lot and along E. Sycamore St., as it is the staging area/starting point for Talawanda High School's homecoming parade that will be taking place Thursday evening. The Millett Hall East lot will be open as usual.

POWELL NAMED MAC EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior middle hitter Avarie Powell's breakout season continued with her first weekly MAC award last weekend. She put down 25 kills in only six sets, an average of 4.17 kills per set. She made only four errors in 38 attempts for an incredible .553 attack percentage. Powell had two block assists on the weekend and finished with 26 points, an average of 4.33 per set.

BOWLING GREEN RIVALRY:  Miami and Bowling Green have been battling at the top of the MAC standings for the past few seasons. The teams have shared the last two MAC regular season crowns, finishing at 13-3 both years. They have the top two league records from 2016 on, with the RedHawks at 43-9 and the Falcons right behind at 39-13. Miami holds a 4-3 record against BGSU during that span. ABOUT BOWLING GREEN: The Falcons are 9-7 overall and 3-1 in the MAC. They have shared the past two regular season titles with Miami. Last weekend they were beat 1-3 by the league's surprise team Akron on Friday, but rebounded to sweep Buffalo on Saturday. Freshman outside hitter Petra Indrova has been the star for Bowling Green in her rookie season. She has 193 kills, an average of 3.33 kills per set. Sophomore Julia Walz has taken over the libero duties this year and has 322 digs, an average of 5.55 digs per set.

SERIES WITH THE FALCONS: Miami holds a 51-31 record all-time against Bowling Green. The Falcons have won three in a row against the RedHawks however, including both matches last season. On Sept. 27, 2018 in Bowling Green, Miami grabbed the first set, but BGSU rebounded to take the final three as the 'Hawks fell 1-3 (25-19, 19-25, 23-25, 17-25). Margaret Payne led Miami with 15 kills, while the two teams combined for 201 total digs. On Nov. 1, 2018 in Oxford, Miami hit only .138 for the match as it fell 0-3 (21-25, 23-25, 17-25). Payne recorded 10 kills in that contest.

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS: The Huskies are 5-13 overall and 2-2 in the MAC. Last weekend, they were swept by Ball State on Friday, but rebounded to take down Toledo, 3-1, on Saturday. Prior to facing Miami on Saturday, they will travel to Western Michigan on Thursday. Northern Illinois is led by junior middle blocker Kennedy Wallace. She 185 kills, an average of 2.85 kills per set.

SERIES WITH THE HUSKIES: Northern Illinois holds a 23-21 lead in the all-time series with Miami. The RedHawks have won the last two against the Huskies, including a 3-0 (25-18, 28-26, 25-18) victory in their meeting last season on Sept. 30, 2018 in Oxford. Margaret Payne led Miami with 13 kills, while Gaby Harper had a career-high 23 digs in the win.