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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

NIU sophomore gymnast Kiera O’Shea salutes at the end of her vault routine during the Huskies’ home-opening tri-meet against Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University on Jan. 28 at the Convocation Center. O’Shea was one of two NIU gymnasts to qualify for NCAA Regionals on Monday. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

COLUMN: NIU’s keys to breaking through regionals

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | March 28, 2024

In the 43 years since the NCAA introduced women’s gymnastics as a sport in the 1981-82 school year, NIU has sent 36 gymnasts to compete as individuals at NCAA Regionals. Of those 36, NIU hall of famer Sandy Menard is the only Huskie to ever advance...

NIU sophomore Nataly Ninova prepares for a strike against Eastern Illinois University on March 9. Ninova and her doubles partner, junior Erika Dimitriev, earned MAC Doubles Team of the Week honors, along with NIU seniors Mikael Vollbach and Cheng En Tsai. (Northern Star File Photo)

Tennis Sweeps MAC Doubles Team of the Week

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 28, 2024

NIU swept the Mid-American Conference Doubles Team of the Week honors, with a team from both NIU men’s (15-3, 4-1 MAC) and women’s tennis (12-7, 1-2 MAC) being awarded the honor.  Senior duo Cheng En Tsai and Mikael Vollbach were named the MAC...

Then-junior outfielder Eric Erato (5) watches a pop-up on April 8, 2023. Erato collected a hit in his 12th game out of his last 13 as NIU baseball lost 23-4 to the University of Toledo Thursday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Huskies toppled by Toledo in 23-4 rout

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | March 28, 2024

Following NIU baseball’s (9-17, 5-5 MAC) 17-8 victory over Northwestern University on Tuesday, the Huskies offense was held to only four runs to open its series against the University of Toledo (12-13, 7-3 MAC). PITCHING MELTDOWN Freshman pitcher...

Chicago White Sox shortstop Danny Mendick throws a baseball during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Friday in Tempe, Arizona. The White Sox and Chicago Cubs are set for their respective Opening Day games on Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Cubs, White Sox ready for 2024 season

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 27, 2024

MLB opening day is fast approaching as the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs open up their 2024 seasons Thursday. The White Sox begin with a three-game home series against the AL Central rival Detroit Tigers. The Cubs travel to Arlington for a three-game...

Sophomore forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (from left) shoots a free throw while sophomore forward Xavier Amos (13), freshman guard Will Lovings-Watts (1), junior guard Zarique Nutter (2) and redshirt sophomore Zion Russell huddle up in an NIU mens basketball home game against the University at Buffalo on Feb. 13. All five players have entered the transfer portal since the end of the 2023-2024 regular season. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

5 NIU men’s basketball players enter transfer portal

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | March 27, 2024

DeKALB – Five NIU men’s basketball players have entered the transfer portal, per multiple social media posts. Verbal Commits announced that junior guard Zarique Nutter, sophomore forwards Xavier Amos and Yanic Konan Niederhauser, freshman guard...

Senior infielder Jake Nelson throws a baseball in an NIU baseball game against Louisiana State University. Nelson went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the Huskies 17-8 victory over Northwestern University. (Courtesy of Jonathan Mailhes)

Huskies pull away from Northwestern behind late-inning surge

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 26, 2024

After falling behind 4-0 in the first inning, the Huskies’ bats exploded for a season-high 17 runs to lead NIU baseball (9-16, 5-4 MAC) to a 17-8 victory over Northwestern University (10-12) Tuesday. Junior outfielder JP Gauthier continued to swing...

Senior pitcher Claire Norred (19) throws the opening pitch at Mary M. Bell Field Tuesday. The Huskies lost their home opener 17-5 to DePaul. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Softball goes cold in home opener, loses 6th straight

By Lucas Didier, Assistant Sports Editor | March 26, 2024

DeKALB – NIU softball (7-19, 1-5 MAC) was pummeled 17-5 in five innings by the DePaul University Blue Demons (7-20, 2-4 BEC) in its first home game of the season Tuesday. DePaul’s 13 hits and three home runs, as well as NIU’s seven errors, lit...

A graphic shows sophomores Jenna Horne and Kiera OShea as the first ever Co-Huskies of the Week. OShea and Horne came up with big performances for their respective squads en route to their first career Huskie of the Week awards. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Kiera O’Shea, Jenna Horne share Huskie of the Week honors

By Northern Star Sports Staff | March 25, 2024

DeKALB – For the first time ever, the Northern Star’s Huskie of the Week honor has been shared between two NIU sophomore student-athletes. Gymnast Kiera O’Shea and women’s tennis player Jenna Horne each earned a share of the Huskie of the Week...

A graphic shows the dates for upcoming events in NIU Athletics. Softball returns to DeKalb Tuesday to face DePaul University for its first home action of the year. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Softball’s home debut headlines this week in Huskie sports

By Northern Star Sports Staff | March 24, 2024

NIU softball is set to open their first home series of the 2024 season against DePaul University this week in Huskie sports. SOFTBALL Tuesday, March 26 vs DePaul University, 2 p.m. DeKalb / Mary M. Bell Field Watch: NIU Athletics | Live Stats:...

Then NIU freshman pitcher and utility player Danielle Stewart (22) reaches for the ball as then junior catcher Ellis Erickson (23) passes it at home plate during NIU Softballs home game against Central Michigan University March 31, 2023. The Huskies were swept by the University of Akron Zips, losing 7-6 in the final game of the series Sunday. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU leaves Akron winless, picking up fifth-straight loss

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | March 24, 2024

NIU softball (7-18, 1-5 MAC) wrapped up its three-game series losing 7-6 to the University of Akron Zips (13-15, 5-1 MAC), marking the Huskies’ fifth-straight loss. Three home runs headlined today’s game as Huskie senior infielder Caitlyn Shumaker,...

Redshirt sophomore Adam Brouwer delivers a pitch against Miami University at McKie Field at Hayden Park in Oxford, Ohio. Brouwers seven-inning shutout performance boosted the Huskies to a 1-0 win over the RedHawks on Sunday. (Ellison Neumann | Courtesy of Miami Athletics)

Huskies take down Miami in pitchers duel

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | March 24, 2024

Behind the best performance of redshirt sophomore pitcher Adam Brouwer’s career, NIU baseball (8-16, 5-4 MAC) snuck past the Miami University RedHawks (9-13, 4-5 MAC) 1-0 Sunday.  Brouwer pitched seven shutout innings, allowing four hits and walking...

NIU gymnastics senior Alyssa Al-Ashari executes a back handspring on the balance beam during the final rotation of Sunday’s MAC dual meet against Kent State University in the Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center in Kent, Ohio. Al-Ashari finished tied for first on beam at the MAC Championships Saturday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Al-Ashari, O’Shea crowned MAC champs on beam, vault

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | March 24, 2024

The past week has been an emotional one for senior Alyssa Al-Ashari. On Tuesday, Al-Ashari and sophomore Kiera O’Shea were named to the All-MAC Second Team. Four days later, they co-championed the conference in their respective events. “It’s...