DeKALB | With a different colored jersey comes great responsibility.

As libero, or defensive specialist designated to playing the back court, Maddie Hughes has taken on a role unlike any other and been quite successful. But in her final season with Huskie volleyball, she finds herself in another role: the lone senior.

As this year’s team is comprised of 10 first or second year players, Hughes’ experience and leadership will benefit the squad, head coach Ray Gooden said.

“She’s helped the team grow together and she’s helped the team build upon things,” Gooden said. “We’ve had some pretty good challenges, and she’s been not only able to achieve them individually, but also bring other people along.”

As it will be Hughes’ final season as a Huskie, both Gooden and her teammates want her to accomplish every goal she sets out.

“She’s got some pretty lofty goals, and it would be really good to be able to achieve those goals,” Gooden said. “I know that she wants to help show the world what NIU volleyball is all about.”

Last season, the Huskies finished 14-16 (8-8 MAC), after dropping their MAC Tournament quarterfinal match to Central Michigan in three sets.

As an individual, Hughes earned MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors, the first time in program history, and was named to second team All-MAC.

“One of the things that [Hughes] always says is she wants to walk in the gym and know that our team’s going to win,” junior setter Kristin Hoffman said. “The confidence that she has is something that we all should strive to have.”

When recruited, Hoffman learned Hughes was attending and credits her as part of the reason for choosing the Huskies. Hoffman learned of Hughes’ talent during high school since their hometowns of Batavia and St. Charles, respectively, are near one another.

Entering their third year of playing together, Hoffman has noticed the role change in Hughes.

“From the first day [this season] it was kind of like she knew what her role was,” Hoffman said. “She obviously knew she was the only senior, but everyday I’ve seen her step up as a leader. She is our only senior, and she came to this school to make an impact, make a difference, win the MAC, and this is her last year.”