Three Huskies named to All-Mac team

For the second straight season in a row, NIU track and field had three team members named to the 2012 Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-Mid-American Conference team.

Senior Jenner Sio and junior Jenelle McCalla both won the award for the second year in a row, and junior Courtney Oldenburg won the award for the first time after receiving an honorable mention last season.

Sio is a management major with a 4.0 GPA; she broke the Huskies’ record in the triple jump with a 40-02.00 (12.24m) leap at the 103rd annual Drake Relays.

McCalla holds a 4.0 GPA in psychology and recorded four top five finishes in the 400 hurdles during the outdoor season. She also recorded a season-best second place finish at the UW-Whitewater Alternative Meet.

Oldenburg, who majors in nursing, maintained a 3.864 GPA and broke the school record in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:27.64 at the Mt. SAC Relays.

“Our coaching staff has great pride in our student-athletes’ academic — as well as their athletic — accomplishments,” said Connie Teaberry, track and field head coach, in a press release. “These three ladies have led the way for the team’s success in both. Jenner, Jenelle and Courtney work diligently to maintain a high standard of excellence and, because of their dedication, they will succeed. I’m glad they are representatives of the team, athletic department and the NIU institution, and we are proud that they are Huskies.”

Hoffman up for woman of the year award

For her efforts on the court as well as in the classroom, Kristin Hoffman of NIU volleyball has been selected by the MAC as its nominee for the NCAA woman of the year award.

On the court, Hoffman was team captain and helped lead the Huskies to the MAC regular season title last season.

Hoffman is the first Huskie to be named the MAC Setter of the Year after leading the country in assists with 12.27 per set.

Academically, Hoffman graduated from NIU with a degree in history and a GPA of 3.97. She was a five-time member of the NIU Dean’s and Honors list.

Hoffman also excelled in the community as she was a part of an AmeriCorps program called Students in Service. She was required to log 300 hours of community service.

She did community service by working at a daycare, tutoring elementary school students, volunteering at a summer Girl Scout camp and playing games at a nursing home.