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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

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 eyes success under new leadership

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 29, 2023

The new age of NIU volleyball begins with an abundance of ‘news’: new coaches, new players, new jerseys, new foes and even a new live mascot. With three matches under their belt, the 2023 Huskies have entered the thick of a regular season that...

Savanah Brandt (18) jumping up to block a University of Illinois attack on Saturday. The Huskies fell to the Illini 3-1 in day 2 of the Huskie Invitational. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

COLUMN: Volleyball fought through fire, hope remains

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 28, 2023

DeKALB – The first showing of the 2023 edition of NIU volleyball hasn’t delivered in the win-loss record, but plenty of volleyball is left to be played for the Huskies to prove their worth. Hosting two opponents at the NIU Convocation Center across...

NIU junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo spikes the ball over the net during Saturday's matchup against University of Illinois. The Huskies dropped the match by a set score of 3-1. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Volleyball dazed in rematch with Cougars

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 27, 2023

DeKALB – Seeking its first win and a bit of vengeance, NIU volleyball was forcefully rebuffed by a familiar foe and remains winless to start 2023. The winless Huskies were plagued by the offensive onslaught dealt by visiting Chicago State University...

Senior setter Ella Mihacevich rises up to hit the volleyball in a Saturday matchup against the University of Illinois. (Scott Walstrom | Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Volleyball begins Parys’ era winless

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 27, 2023

DeKALB – The debut of NIU volleyball’s first-year head coach Sondra Parys has come and gone, and the Huskies remain winless to begin the tenure of their new leader. More than nine months after missing out on a MAC Tournament bid by four tiebreakers...

Outside hitter Katie Jablonski (center) and middle blocker Sammi Lockwood attempt to block an attack from Ball State's opposite hitter Natalie Mitchem during NIU volleyball's Friday night match at Victor E. Court. NIU volleyball will host four training camps in July. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU volleyball to host 4 camps in July

By Zack Rodriguez, Sports Reporter | April 20, 2023

DeKALB-  NIU volleyball is set to host multiple volleyball camps this July. The camp is designed to instill and improve a multitude of different skills. NIU will host four separate camps: serving, skills, elite and team.   SERVING CAMP The serving...

Former Divison II volleyball head coach joins Huskies staff

By DeOndre Saunders, Sports Reporter | March 9, 2023

NIU women’s volleyball head coach Sondra Parys announced Thursday that Ross Kessler will be joining the volleyball staff. Kessler has over 18 years of coaching experience. His recent stint as head coach was at Divison II Newberry College in South...

NIU volleyball adds assistant coach Mackenzie Rombach

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | February 16, 2023

DeKALB – NIU women’s volleyball head coach Sondra Parys announced Thursday that the Huskies’ coaching staff is adding Mackenzie Rombach as an assistant coach. Rombach previously spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Jacksonville...

Middle blocker Savanah Brandt joins NIU volleyball as its first addition under new head coach Sondra Parys (Courtesy Belmont Athletics)

NIU volleyball adds Belmont transfer Savanah Brandt

By Northern Star Sports Staff | January 25, 2023

DeKALB – Sondra Parys, the newly-hired head coach of NIU volleyball, has made her first addition to the team’s roster as the program announced the signing of Savanah Brandt on Tuesday. Brandt, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker, will join the Huskies as...

Volleyball assistant Davidson bids farewell to NIU

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 14, 2023
"Joe" Davidson, the second-in-command to former NIU volleyball head coach Ray Gooden, says goodbye to Huskie country.
NIU President Lisa Freeman, NIU volleyball head coach Sondra Parys and NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier hold an NIU volleyball jersey bearing the No. 7, representing Parys' status as the Huskies' seventh head coach in program history. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU welcomes Sondra Parys to Huskie country

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 12, 2023

DeKALB – Standing at the podium in front of the crowd gathered at Victor E. Court during her first appearance as the new head coach of NIU volleyball on Tuesday, Sondra Parys shared a brief moment with her father, Joe. “I know you’ve always wanted...

Sophomore libero Francesca Bertucci serves during NIU's Mid-American Conference opener against the University of Akron Zips on Sept. 23. The Huskies earned their first win of league play after beating Akron 3-0. (Marco Sotelo Avila | Northern Star)

NIU 2022 digs leader Bertucci transfers to Bama

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 9, 2023

DeKALB – The 2022 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year is SEC-bound after NIU volleyball libero Francesca Bertucci announced her commitment to the University of Alabama Sunday. Bertucci, who will be a junior in 2023, made the...

Former Loyola University Chicago assistant coach Sondra Parys was hired to lead NIU's volleyball program Thursday. (Loyola Chicago Athletics)

NIU tabs Sondra Parys to lead Huskie volleyball

By Northern Star Sports Staff | December 15, 2022
NIU Athletics has hired former Loyola Chicago assistant coach Sondra Parys to take the reins of its volleyball program.