Although NIU volleyball had five players named All-MAC, there was one clear-cut star of the team.

Lauren Wicinski was recognized as a threat throughout the country after a strong sophomore campaign, which landed her at No. 2 on the Northern Star’s Top 10 Athletes of 2011-2012.

On top of being named MAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, Wicinski received All-American honors, making the third team.

“I thought that the year went pretty well,” Wicinski said. “It was a team effort. We worked really hard and it ended up being a really good year.”

Wicinski stood atop the national leaderboards offensively. NIU ranked as one of the top offenses in the nation and Wicinski was its best hitter. She finished the season with five MAC West Offensive Player of the Week awards while reaching the 1,000 kill club in just 54 career matches, becoming the fastest player in MAC history to do so.

Wicinski finished the season with 17 double-doubles and 16 matches of at least 20 kills. She led the NCAA in points (6.18/set) and kills (5.34/set) and finished third in the country in aces (.57/set).

She was also one of 48 players selected to the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball A2 Program.

Wicinski led the Huskies to a 28-7 record during the 2011 season, in which they won the MAC regular season title before faltering in a five-set championship match against Central Michigan. In that match, Wicinski led all players with 20 kills, adding 12 digs.

Wicinski also helped lead NIU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2001.

“I was disappointed that we didn’t win the MAC Tournament,” Wicinski said. “It is much harder to be consistent throughout the entire year and win a tournament. Central Michigan just played really good volleyball.”