Despite temperatures leaving room for debate, March sees the end of NIU’s winter sports and welcomes home the baseball and softball teams, officially kicking off the spring season in DeKalb.
While no team began action in March, some continued their winning ways while others have taken a turn for the worse.
Here are three highs and three lows for athletics in March.
HIGH: BASEBALL’S 5-1 HOMESTAND
After starting its season on the road, NIU baseball (16-8, 8-4 MAC) returned home to take on Miami University and Bowling Green State University, taking consecutive series.
The Huskies swept Miami for the first time since 2012 for their first series win against the RedHawks since 2019, the last time NIU qualified for the Mid-American Conference Championship.
The following weekend, NIU took two-of-three against Bowling Green State University to improve to 8-4 in conference play, good for fourth in the MAC.
The weekends were highlighted by consecutive complete games from senior pitcher Max Vaisvila, as well as strong performances from senior catcher Ivan Dahlberg and junior pitcher Danny Cihocki.
LOW: WOMEN’S TENNIS’S LOSING STREAK
After a strong start in non-conference play, NIU women’s tennis has struggled in MAC play, to put it lightly.
After winning their first conference match against the University of Toledo, the Huskies have now lost four straight, and sit at seventh place in the MAC, just behind Eastern Michigan University.
At the top three courts in singles play, the Huskies are 2-13 since beginning conference play, with sophomore Theodora Kousiou recording both wins.
With just three matches left before the MAC Championship, NIU is running out of time to return to the championship after falling to Buffalo in the title match last season.
HIGH: MEN’S TENNIS SITTING ATOP THE MAC
Currently sitting in first place in the MAC, men’s tennis holds a 15-5 record and is 5-1 in conference play, and is poised to make a run at the tournament.
Winners of their last four matches, including a 7-0 sweep of the University of Illinois Chicago, the Huskies have rebounded from a poor 1-9 conference record last season.
Senior Iker Gaztambide Arrastia was named the MAC Singles Player of the Week as well as receiving a national ranking, while senior Iker Dellien Velasco and sophomore Chiao Bo Sou Nan were named the MAC Doubles Team of the Week.
LOW: BLAKE WEST’S EARLY EXIT AT MAC CHAMPIONSHIP
In his final appearance at the MAC Championship, senior Blake West was unable to defend his title at 125 pounds, falling in the quarterfinals and failing to advance to his third NCAA championship.
West held a 17-5 record in the regular season, but came up short against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville sophomore Drew Davis in the tournament.
In the consolation round, West earned his 117th career win, moving him into first place in career wins at NIU and finishing his career with 119 wins.
HIGH: THE HIRING OF MATT MAJKRZAK
After parting ways with former head coach Rashon Burno, NIU announced Matt Majkrzak as the new head of the men’s basketball program on March 17, just 10 days after announcing Burno’s departure.
Majkrzak comes from Northern Michigan University, where he spent seven years as a head coach at the Division 2 level, where he won multiple conference championships.
With him, Majkrzak has already welcomed three transfer students to NIU, and seems like an early fit for the program, which is looking to turn things around while entering the Horizon League after a 9-21 season.
LOW: THE END OF MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Both men’s and women’s basketball seasons officially came to an end in March, leaving behind seasons that both teams will look to forget.
In the first year under head coach Jacey Brooks, women’ s basketball went 7-23, winning just four games in MAC play. After a senior night win against the University at Buffalo, the Huskies fell to Bowling Green in the season finale, putting an end to their MAC run.
In what would become Burno’s final year, the Huskies on the men’s side went 9-21, 4-14 in their final MAC run. NIU lost its last five games of the season, and officially concluded on March 6.
