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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

Sophomore pitcher/utility Danielle Stewart (left) and senior catcher/outfielder Ellis Erickson (right) jump up for a high five during pre-game on April 12. NIU softball won both games of a doubleheader on Wednesday against Valparaiso University. (Northern Star File Photo)

Softball sweeps Valparaiso in doubleheader

By Lucas Didier, Assistant Sports Editor | April 24, 2024

NIU softball (15-29, 6-14 MAC) crushed Valparaiso University (8-34, 2-15 MVC), outscoring the Beacons 13-2 in a doubleheader sweep Wednesday. Wednesday’s pair of wins marked the first sweep of any kind for the Huskies this season. Three Huskie...

Senior catcher/outfielder Ellis Erickson (23) rounds first base after hitting a single on March 30 against Kent State University. Erickson was named to the Northern Star Sports Staffs MAC softball All-Star squad. (Northern Star File Photo)

COLUMN: Building the 2024 MAC All-Star softball team

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | April 24, 2024

As the 2024 regular season winds down and the postseason draws near, there’s no better time than the present to visit the world of make-believe – one where the MAC’s top talents join forces on a stacked 2024 MAC softball All-Star team featuring...

Then-junior Jasmine Ly shoots at the 2023 MAC Championship in April of 2023. Ly finished tied for 25th place in her final tournament of her senior season as the Huskies finished in third place at the 2024 MAC Championship. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU women’s golf places third at the MAC Championship

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | April 23, 2024

NIU women’s golf wrapped up the 2023-24 season Tuesday after placing third at the MAC Championship. Senior Emily Romancew and graduate student Sydney Naro each logged a top-10 finish.  The Huskies kicked off the tournament with a score of 310 in...

Sophomore right fielder Fiona Crane (26) throws the ball infield after catching the foul against the fence line in right field while senior center fielder Ellis Erickson (23) and junior second baseman Jenna Turner (4) cheer her on in the field. NIU softball was defeated 9-3 by the University at Buffalo Bulls Sunday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Softball drops home series against Buffalo

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | April 22, 2024

DeKALB – An afternoon’s worth of bullying by the University at Buffalo Bulls has left NIU softball, a team that had championship expectations entering 2024, with no chance of a winning conference mark. NIU (13-29, 6-14 MAC) suffered its 14th conference...

Sophomore Isabella Righi serves on March 9 at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. NIU womens tennis won its final match of the regular season 5-2 on Sunday against the University at Buffalo Bulls. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU women’s tennis defeats Bulls in season finale

By Angel Morales, Sports Reporter | April 21, 2024

NIU’s women’s tennis (16-10, 5-5 MAC) triumphed against the University at Buffalo (16-11, 3-7 MAC) with a score of 5-2 on Sunday.  The Huskies surpassed the Bulls as they won all completed doubles matches, and won four out of six singles matches...

Freshamn Faith Rouse chases junior Talayssia Sanders on Feb. 16 at the Redbird Tune-Up. NIU track and field earned one top-10 finish at the Michael Johnson Invitational on Saturday. (Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics)

Vorpagel highlights NIU’s weekend at the Michael Johnson Invitational

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | April 21, 2024

Junior Emma Vorpagel earned NIU women’s track and field’s only top-10 finish in the 800-meter run at the Michael Johnson Invitational.  Vorpagel took a fourth place finish in the 800-meter run, finishing with a time of 2:14.33. The junior distance...

Junior middle infielder/outfielder Avery Carnahan high fives NIU assistant coach Alaynie Woollard on March 27 at Mary M. Bell Field. Carnahan hit a 3-run single against the University at Buffalo as NIU softball split Saturdays doubleheader. (Northern Star File Photo)

Softball splits home doubleheader against Buffalo

By Lucas Didier, Assistant Sports Editor | April 21, 2024

DeKALB – NIU softball (13-28, 6-13 MAC) split Saturday’s doubleheader with the University at Buffalo (14-25, 6-12 MAC), winning 11-3 and losing 4-1. Game 1 brought 13 hits for the Huskies en route to a mercy rule victory in the sixth inning. Senior...

Sophomore Jenna Horne prepares to serve at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Horne sealed a 4-3 victory for NIU womens tennis on Friday with a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) win in the final match of the day. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Women’s tennis inches past Ball State

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | April 20, 2024

NIU women’s tennis (15-10, 4-5 MAC) snuck past the Ball State Cardinals (7-14, 4-5 MAC) with a 4-3 victory to earn its fourth win in the MAC. “The doubles got us off to a great start, we played well there,” said NIU women’s tennis head coach...

Kim Kester advises her player during an NIU womens golf practice. NIU Athletics announced Wednesday that Kester was given a multi-year contract extension. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Kim Kester extended through 2026-27 season

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | April 19, 2024

DeKALB – NIU women’s golf head coach Kim Kester received a multi-year contract extension, NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Frazier announced Wednesday. The contract extension keeps Kester in DeKalb through June of 2027.  “She...

Then-NIU volleyball head coach Pete Waite stands courtside during a match. Waite will be inducted into the 2024 NIU Athletics Hall of Fame during Homecoming Weekend after leading the Huskies to a program-best .723 winning percentage during his 11 seasons as NIU’s head coach. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Former volleyball coach Pete Waite named to 2024 Hall of Fame Class

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | April 17, 2024

DeKALB – Nearly a quarter-century after the end of his storied tenure at the helm of NIU volleyball, Pete Waite is bound for the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame. Waite was announced as the third member of the 2024 NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Class on Tuesday,...

Senior infielder Caitlyn Shumaker is tagged out on a stolen base attempt on March 30 at Mary M. Bell Field. NIU softball was swept in a road doubleheader on Tuesday against Western Michigan University. (Northern Star File Photo)

Softball strikes out in Kalamazoo doubleheader

By Lucas Didier, Assistant Sports Editor | April 16, 2024

NIU softball (12-27, 5-12 MAC) was held to one run in a doubleheader sweep by Western Michigan University (22-17, 11-5 MAC) on Tuesday. The Huskies recorded just 7 hits and were outscored 4-1, losing the season series against the Broncos. GAME 1:...

Senior Anastasia Rakita prepares to serve on March 9 at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. NIU womens tennis defeated Bowling Green State University 6-1 on Sunday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Women’s tennis takes down Bowling Green 6-1

By Angel Morales, Sports Reporter | April 15, 2024

NIU women’s tennis (14-10, 3-5 MAC) was victorious against Bowling Green State University (7-13, 0-8 MAC) in a 6-1 win Sunday.  The Huskies triumphed as they won two out of three doubles, with the first match ruled incomplete, and winning five out...