Despite having a 13-3 record, the NIU volleyball team doesn’t mind getting another player.

April Hankton, a freshman outside hitter from Columbia Heights, Minn., was cleared to play before the Huskies Sept. 26 match against Ball State.

NIU had to appeal to the NCAA to make Hankton eligible because she was missing some of the core classes that are needed for college.

“Based on the past and what we hold available to her for the future, the NCAA granted her clearance to play,” NIU coach Ray Gooden said.

Gooden said the appeals process involves a lot of paperwork where facts are stated to argue why an athlete should be eligible. But there are ways to make the appeals process faster.

“Your goal is to not allow the NCAA to have any questions,” Gooden said about the process. “That is what slows down the process. Everyone did a great job of creating a case that was question-free from start to finish.”

Hankton has yet to play this season despite getting clearance to play. Gooden said it wouldn’t be fair to play her over her teammates, who have been practicing while she was appealing.

Hankton did not return calls for this story.

Junior outside hitter Shara Parker went through a similar appeals process. Her appeal was for medical issues.

“It is the most frustrating thing an athlete can go through,” Parker said. “You come home some days frustrated because you want to be out there, but you just can’t. You’re a part of the team, but you’re not really a part of the team.”

When Gooden and NIU were recruiting Hankton, they knew there might be obstacles to overcome. Other teams such as University of Wisconsin and University of Cincinnati were also recruiting her.

They knew there was an outside chance Hankton wouldn’t be eligible, but they thought she would be worth it.

“On her club team, she had a natural leadership ability,” Gooden said. “A lot of the girls looked up to her a lot because she is a very physical player.”

There has been some talk of redshirting Hankton this season, but Gooden said he would much rather have her play.

“We hope that she will become one of the best terminators we have ever had,” Gooden said, “one of the best scorers, scoring 20-plus points a match with her kills, her serve, her block — everything. We’re working on her becoming a complete player.”