Women’s soccer celebrates the past season

At the end of February, the NIU women’s soccer team held its annual banquet to celebrate the 2010 season and hand out awards.

Huskie seniors Kaitlin Bujak, Kylie Revelle, Christen Schuler, Mo Smunt and Annie Wyer were all given awards commemorating their achievements on the field during their tenure as players.

Five other awards were given out as well.

Amy Carr received Freshman of the Year, Lauren Eberts was given Defensive Player of the Year, Kelsey Passaglia earned Offensive Player of the Year, Lauren Solomon was credited with the Most Improved Player while Smunt garnered the team’s Most Valuable Player.

MAC Women’s Volleyball Tournament location changed

According to a MAC press release, starting this upcoming season and in 2012, the MAC Women’s Volleyball Tournament will be held at SPIRE Sports Complex in Geneva, Ohio.

John Hawks, USA Volleyball Men’s Junior National Team Head Coach, suggested the playing surface be Beynon PolyTurf for the venue. It also features an elastic shock pad below the surface which provides a friendly surface for athletes to reduce the risk of injury.

The venue wasn’t the only thing changed for the tournament, it will now only take the MAC’s top eight teams to the championship instead of all 12, as in the past. Due to this change, first round campus site games will be eliminated, while sending all tournament participants to SPIRE.

The 2011 tournament will be Nov. 18-20 while the 2012 tournament will be Nov. 16-18.

Men’s soccer adds another player to its 2011 class

NIU men’s soccer coach Eric Luzzi added a late addition to his upcoming recruiting class.

Midfielder Jayson LeSeth earned all-conference honors and was a captain who led Maine West High School to the regional and sectional championships last season. Leseth is the eighth member for Luzzi’s 2011 class.

“We had seen good things from him with his club team, but he really impressed us at our Elite Camp last summer,” Luzzi said in an NIU press release. “He has a very good soccer brain, and will fit very well into our team’s style of play next season.”