Two prominent and successful student athletes left NIU athletics this year: Lauren Wicinski and Claire Jakubicek.

Wicinski, a two-time MAC Volleyball Player of the Year, asked for her release from the program in February. Later, she would be granted her release from NIU, and eventually verbally committed to play at Michigan State.

“I would just say that the environment that the coaches have set has made it a benefit for me and the way they are,” Wicinski said.

The Huskies’ women’s basketball program saw the departure of Jakubicek, who in her first season earned the MAC Freshman of the Year award. Jakubicek told the Northern Star Sunday in an exclusive phone interview that she will play at Indiana University.

Jakubicek will have to sit the year out due to transfer rules, but she’s looking forward to starting the next chapter in her collegiate basketball career.

“I just know that it’s the right university for me, so I’m excited to go play for them next year,” Jakubicek said.

The exiting of Wicinski and Jakubicek earned the Northern Star’s No. 2 NIU sports story of the year.

Wicinski said that herself along with freshman Cheyenne Dawson, Jessica Lubic and Haley Norris all had their personal reasons to leave NIU.

“I was ready to be in a better environment,” Wicinski said

In a Feb. 27 Northern Star article, Wicinski stated she had the desire to play at a “bigger school.”

While she only played her freshman and sophomore year at NIU, Wicinski certainly left her mark in the record books. The Geneva native became the youngest player in MAC history to net the 1,000 kill mark. She was also the only player in conference history to garner MAC player of the year honors in both of her underclass years.

Jakubicek, a Cary native, didn’t have the chance to complete her freshman season after she broke her foot against Ball State Feb. 16. The injury, however, didn’t prevent her from being recognized for her first year of playing collegiate women’s basketball. The former Huskies forward averaged 11 points and 5.1 rebounds for the 2011-12 season.

“Claire Jakubicek has decided to transfer and we are in the process of handling her request,” said Kathi Bennett, NIU women’s basketball coach in a statement in a April 3 Northern Star article. “In her one season with us, Claire played very well and did great things. She worked very hard and a lot of effort went into her as a player and person. This was her decision to leave. We wish her the best.”