For her play during the week of Nov. 1-7, senior libero on the NIU volleyball team Maddie Hughes earned MAC West Defensive Player of the Week honors, the fourth time the senior has garnered the distinction in her career. In eight sets over the weekend, Hughes racked up 48 digs. Ranking 93rd in the nation in digs per game with an average of 4.55, the senior is second in NIU history with 2,116 over the course of her career.

Late last week, NIU women’s basketball head coach Kathi Bennett named her captains for the 2010-11 season. Bennett pegged seniors Ebony Ellis and Bianca Brown along with junior Courtney Shelton . Ellis averaged 12 points and 9.8 rebounds a game last year. While Brown and Shelton averaged 10.7 and 27.6 minutes a game, respectively, in the 2009-10 season. The Huskies get their first taste of game action Wednesday in an exhibition game at the Convocation Center against UW-Parkside at 7 p.m.

Senior guard on the NIU basketball team, Xavier Silas has been named as one of 30 candidates for the 2011 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for men’s basketball. Annually awarded, the CLASS Award is given to the Division I senior basketball player that has most clearly demonstrated strong senses of community classroom, and character throughout their collegiate career. Silas is the only MAC player to be nominated.