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...

Is ESPN going through a fad, or has it just gone certifiably insane? I really can't think of another explanation to rationally break down its coverage of the past eight months. First there was Tiger Woods, then Tim Tebow, Stephen Strasburg, LeBron James...

To all the incoming freshman at Northern Illinois University, I offer you these suggestions in an attempt in making your first year as a Huskie a good one. I'm not offering the best schemes to ditch class or the locations of elaborate party spots. Instead,...

Dr. Mary M. Bell began her career at NIU in 1957 and ushered women's athletics into the university. Bell's coaching experience ran the gamut of sports on the NIU campus. At one time or another, she coached field hockey, basketball, badminton, volleyball,...

Ruth Fender was pioneer of women's athletics at NIU. Fender started every game of her career in softball, basketball and field hockey. Fender also played golf and volleyball as a Huskie. She was part of the NIU basketball team that defeated Big Ten opponents...

Jean Pankonin is believed to have played in more Huskies sports than anyone else in history, male or female. She was a member of the badminton, basketball, field hockey, softball, tennis and volleyball teams from 1957 to 1961. On the hardwood, she averaged...

In what may be his biggest hit to date, "Superstar," rapper Lupe Fiasco asks the question: "Did you improve on the design? Did you do something new?" That's one question that every sport team asks itself in the offseason, and it's one that NIU volleyball...

Everybody goes to the doctor once in a while to get a check-up, and it's no different with sports teams. A check-up was what the NIU volleyball team got as it hosted its fourth annual Salvani Playdate at the NIU Recreation Center Saturday. The atmosphere...

Kirk Mango remembers the feeling like it was yesterday. He was standing in the middle of the Chick Evans Field House. The old basketball arena was crowded. Fans spilled out of the bleachers onto the floor. Those who showed up on time didn't have a seat,...

The Northern Illinois volleyball program announced two new members of its coaching staff today with the additions of Dan and Coley Pawlikowski, who both come from North Park University where Coley was the head coach and Dan was assistant coach. "We're...

If you want a job, then you need a résumé. In December of 2006, Marie Zidek graduated from Northern Illinois and had a résumé ready for possible employers. With four years of volleyball experience, an internship at the Kuortane Sports Institute-High...

Love has multiple meanings for different people, but for wrestling head coach Dave Grant, there is one that sticks out. The Northern Star was able to talk with Grant in the middle of a busy week for the program to discuss his start into wrestling, his...