After dreaming of pursuing a career in gymnastics, junior defensive specialist Paige Dacanay found her calling as a key contributor to NIU’s volleyball team.

Dacanay, a native of Crystal Lake, started her volleyball career at a young age when she was influenced by her parents’ past with the sport.

“I started playing because my parents kind of met that way,” Dacanay said. “They started playing beach volleyball in Chicago.”

Dacanay said she was originally into gymnastics, but wound up playing volleyball instead. Now, she has a career save percentage of .947 in just her junior year with the Huskies — good for 11th in NIU history.

“It’s a big achievement, I guess you could say, because it’s something I’ve worked really hard for, and I’ve had lots of goals,” Dacanay said. “I’ve met a lot of those goals, and I always have more goals to reach.”

Standing at 5-foot-3, Dacanay’s height can be a challenge, forcing her to work a little harder than average volleyball players. Her work ethic has not only helped her on the court, but in school and her social life, as well.

She said she has learned to work hard in everything, balancing homework, friends and a hectic volleyball schedule.

Dacanay credits much of her success to the help she gets from her teammates. and coaches.

“My teammates are basically my best friends here because we’re always with each other,” she said. “They push me to be a better person, a better teammate. My teammates are my friends outside of volleyball. In the gym we have that trust; we know each other.”

With one more year left to play, Dacanay said she wants to “leave positive energy and love for the game in hopes that it will leave an impact.”

The Huskies (9-9, 5-1 MAC) will take on Akron at 6 p.m. on Friday in Akron, Ohio.