Homecoming week is full of exciting events for all students. But, the biggest attractions, especially for alumni, are the sporting events that will occur throughout the week.

The week kicks off with the twelfth ranked Big Blue volleyball team taking on the North Central Cardinals in a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin matchup. In the preseason volleyball poll, the Cardinals were picked to be tied for last with the North Park Vikings and the Carroll Pioneers. In their first CCIW game, Millikin took down North Park in three sets.

On Wednesday, though the women’s soccer team heads to Knox College for a non-conference game, the men’s team is set to face Monmouth College on Frank M. Lindsay Field at 7:30. The Big Blue have faced many tough opponents so far, and their record of 2-5-1 reflects that. Their record is comparable to that of the Monmouth Scots, at 2-7.

The plethora of home sporting events continues on Friday with the women’s tennis team facing off against Carthage College at 3:00 at the Fairview Tennis Complex, just off of Millikin’s campus. Carthage will be a tough opponent for the Blue, as they were chosen to finish second in the preseason coaches’ poll. Millikin was chosen to take sixth.

The week will be capped off with the ultimate trio of games on Saturday. At noon, the day begins with a women’s soccer game against North Central College, followed by the men taking on North Central at the finish of the women’s game. Finally, there will be a night football game on Frank M. Lindsay Field, and the Millikin Big Blue will take on the fourth ranked team in the nation, the Wheaton Thunder.

The women’s soccer team currently boasts a 6-2-1 record with victories over MacMurray College, Westminster College, Illinois College, Fontbonne University, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Principia College. They tied with North Park in their first CCIW matchup.

The football season began with a bang. In the first two weeks of play, the Blue took on non-conference opponents. Week one was a blowout, and the Big Blue were the victors in a 76-3 game. The second week of the season held a much tougher matchup for Millikin, but they were able to secure a victory over a top-ranked team in the nation in Rose-Hulman. After a rough first half, the Big Blue came back and earned a 28-26 win.

But, week three was the toughest test they faced. Conference foe North Central was ranked fifth in the nation, and in a hot game that included five minute water breaks each quarter, the Big Blue lost 51-21. The Homecoming game will be no easier, as Wheaton is ranked even higher than the Cardinals. But, there is no question that Millikin has the offensive firepower to combat Wheaton’s talented team, especially after last year when the Big Blue nearly upset the Thunder on their home turf.

Win or lose, the tailgate zone will be packed, there will be plenty of alumni in attendance, and there will be fireworks nonetheless as soon as the game concludes.

With a week chock-full of Millikin athletic events, it is a great week to attend in support of the Big Blue. A week that is all about school spirit would not be complete without wearing the Blue with pride and cheering until you lose your voice in support of your favorite Millikin athletes.

Whether you attend for the games, the opportunity to hang out with friends, the tailgating, the fireworks, or the food, and no matter whether this is the only week you ever go to an athletic event in your time at Millikin, there is no better week to get involved than Homecoming week.