DeKALB – The 2022 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year is SEC-bound after NIU volleyball libero Francesca Bertucci announced her commitment to the University of Alabama Sunday.

Bertucci, who will be a junior in 2023, made the announcement through an Instagram post Sunday afternoon. Alabama volleyball announced Bertucci’s addition to the program Monday.

The announcement comes during a coaching change within NIU’s volleyball program after the school parted ways with longtime head coach Ray Gooden in late November. Former Loyola University Chicago assistant coach Sondra Parys was hired to lead the Huskies on Dec. 15.

Bertucci spent the 2022 season anchoring NIU’s back row as she dug up 586 balls to lead the MAC. She was named to four different All-Tournament teams during the season and racked up two MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors.

The Chicago native helped NIU to a 17-11 record as the Huskies fell just short of a postseason berth. Bertucci ended the year on the All-MAC Second Team and claimed her first MAC Defensive Player of the Year award.

Bertucci now heads to an Alabama program that finished 10-20 in 2022, going 4-14 against the rest of the SEC. The Crimson Tide are led by second-year head coach Rashinda Reed.

With Bertucci’s departure, sophomore Jada Cerniglia and freshman Olivia Hogan are the only players listed as liberos on NIU’s roster.