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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media 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 junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo digs up a ball during Friday’s match between the NIU Huskies and the University of Dayton Flyers. The Huskies went on to fall in three sets to UNI Tournament host University of Northern Iowa on Saturday, ending the weekend with a 2-1 record in the tournament. (Logan Colglaizer | UNI Athletics)

Huskies collared by Panthers in non-conference closer

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 16, 2023

One day removed from a crushing defeat followed by a resounding win to open the UNI Tournament, NIU volleyball was forcefully brought back to earth by a “Northern” foe. NIU’s post-win fire was extinguished by an overpowering performance by the...

Graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann, junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo, senior opposite/outside hitter Emily Dykes, senior setter Ella Mihacevich, junior libero Crew Hoffmeier and junior defensive specialist/libero Jada Cerniglia celebrate after a rally in Friday’s morning match between NIU and the University of Dayton at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Huskies fell to Dayton in three sets before sweeping the University of North Dakota in the following match for their first shutout victory of the season. (Logan Colglaizer | UNI Athletics)

Volleyball bags first sweep, snaps six-game skid

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 16, 2023

From suffering a sweep to dishing one out. From the worst hitting percentage in a match to the best. All in a matter of hours. A tale of two extremes. That tale tells the story of NIU volleyball’s first day of action Saturday at the UNI Tournament...

Junior setter Sophie Hurt sets a ball up for her teammate against the University of Evansville at the DePaul Invitational. The Huskies were defeated by the Purple Aces 3-1 on Friday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU to face ranked competition in non-conference finale

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 13, 2023

The one-win NIU volleyball team has one set of tests remaining in the non-conference portion of its schedule, starting with a head-to-head against the No. 25-ranked team in the nation. NIU is set to begin action at the UNI Tournament hosted by the...

NIU junior libero Crew Hoffmeier (1) serves the ball to the University of Evansville during Friday’s matchup between the Huskies and Purple Aces at the DePaul Invitational in Chicago. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Volleyball stonewalled in Chicago, rocky start persists

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 11, 2023

Like you might find its players doing on the sideline during a mid-match challenge, NIU volleyball has found itself in a limbo near the end of its non-conference stretch. After losing every one of its matches at the DePaul Invitational in Chicago this...

NIU senior opposite/outside hitter Emily Dykes attacks the ball against a pair of blocking University of Evansville players during Friday’s meeting between the Huskies and Purple Aces at McGrath-Phillips in Chicago. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Volleyball ends Chicago road trip winless

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 10, 2023

Knocking on the door of a win on the final day of the DePaul Invitational, the NIU volleyball team was answered with a harsh ending. On match point and leading 15-14 in Saturday’s fifth and deciding set, the Huskies surrendered a 3-0 scoring run....

NIU senior opposite/outside hitter Emily Dykes and junior middle blocker Shannon Dunkin team up to block an attack by University of Evansville graduate student outside hitter Melanie Feliciano during Friday’s match at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Chicago. Dykes led the Huskies with 14 kills while Dunkin had a team-high seven total blocks in her Huskie debut. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU quashed by Evansville in four sets

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 8, 2023

CHICAGO – Two days into its three-day stand in Chicago’s North Side, NIU volleyball’s stint at the DePaul Invitational has continued to offer setbacks for the Huskies. The Huskies (1-7) were undone in four sets, 22-25, 20-25, 25-22, 22-25, by...

Junior setter Sophie Hurt sets the volleyball up for her teammate against the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The Huskies were defeated by the Fighting Illini 3-1 on Aug. 26. (Scott Malstrom | NIU Athletics)

Volleyball served with sweep at DePaul

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 7, 2023

CHICAGO – NIU volleyball received a bitter taste of Chicago, swallowing a shutout defeat to open tournament play in the Windy City. The Huskies (1-6) sustained their most decisive loss of the season to date, falling 3-0 in the first match of the...

Graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann, junior libero Crew Hoffmeier, junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo, sophomore defensive specialist Olivia Hogan, junior defensive specialist Jada Cerniglia and senior setter Ella Mihacevich celebrate after a rally during Friday’s season-opening match against Chicago State University at the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies were defeated 3-2. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Volleyball readies for Chi-town showdowns

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 5, 2023

DeKALB – The one-win NIU volleyball team, back from a two-day spell on the East Coast, has set their sights on success in the Windy City. NIU will play its third out-of-conference tournament of the season – and second on the road – at the DePaul...

Graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann digs a ball during a home match against the University of Illinois on Aug. 26 at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

COLUMN: A win’s a start, but more work to be done

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 4, 2023

The NIU volleyball team has returned from its first road trip of the season, bringing back something they left home without: a win. As great as that first win is, especially since it’s the first for its first-year head coach, areas for improvement...

Davidson College sophomore outside hitter Jackie Bardin attacks over the net against NIU graduate student right side hitter Isabelle Percoco and sophomore middle blocker Savanah Brandt during Saturday’s match at John M. Belk Arena in Davidson, North Carolina. The Huskies lost the match 3-1 for their first road defeat. (Tim Cowie | Davidson Athletics)

Huskies fall flat in road opener finale

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 2, 2023

As the saying goes, “all good things must come to an end.” For NIU volleyball, that end came sooner than the Huskies might have hoped. NIU – fresh off its first win of the season Friday – was snuffed out on the final day of the Wildcat Classic...

NIU volleyball head coach Sondra Parys talks with her team courtside during the Huskies' season-opening match against Chicago State University on Aug. 25 at the NIU Convocation Center. Parys earned her first win as an NCAA Division I head coach Friday, a 3-2 victory over the University of North Carolina Wilmington. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Volleyball’s Sondra Parys bags first win as head coach

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 1, 2023

Four matches into her first season leading NIU volleyball, first-year head coach Sondra Parys has reached the first major milestone in her young coaching career: her first win. The Huskies outlasted the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks...

Junior libero Crew Hoffmeier records a dig  against Chicago State University Friday. The Huskies fell to the Cougars 3-2. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Volleyball seeks redemption in North Carolina

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 31, 2023

DeKALB – In the midst of a win drought after opening weekend, the Huskies are off to the East Coast for their next chance at satisfying their thirst for victory. The Huskies, still pursuing their first win, travel to North Carolina to play in the...