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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 senior opposite/outside hitter Emily Dykes (12) and sophomore middle blocker Savanah Brandt (18) team up to block over the net against the University of Akron on Oct. 27. The Huskies ended their season with a 3-0 loss to Western Michigan on Wednesday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Volleyball routed by Broncos in home finale

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

DeKALB – Eighty-two days after the 2023 campaign got its start, the NIU volleyball team completed the season’s final act Wednesday. Cheers and whistles from the 625-person crowd permeated through Victor E. Court as two squads in very different...

NIU senior setter Ella Mihacevich (15) jumps to serve the ball during NIU volleyball's match against the University of Akron on Oct. 27. The Huskies are preparing to close out their season against first-place Western Michigan on Wednesday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Volleyball to finish season against regular season champs

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 15, 2023

The Huskies are at the finish line. After 29 matches, 112 sets and 4,867 rallies worth of volleyball, NIU’s regular season finale is here. Days removed from having its postseason aspirations fizzle out, the NIU volleyball team is back home to...

Then-sophomore Emmalise Nock posing during her floor routine during the EMU gymnastics meet on Feb.17. The Huskies are gearing up to begin their 2023-2024 season. (Northern Star File Photo)

Back in routine: Gymnastics jumps into new season

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 14, 2023

The NIU gymnastics squad prepares for the next chapter in its 47-year history. In this chapter, the Huskies seek to flip the script from the one before after being left unsatisfied with their finish in last season’s conference title meet. “They...

2022 redshirt senior guard Paulina Castro gives coach Lisa Carlsen a high five as the rest of the women's basketball team heads toward the sideline after its game against Bowling Green on Feb. 2, 2022. (Summer Fitzgerald | Northern Star File Photo)

Women’s basketball adds 3 new recruits

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | November 13, 2023

DeKALB – NIU women’s basketball head coach Lisa Carlsen announced three signings for the 2024-25 season Friday. The Huskies signed Makenzie Brass, Lexi Carlsen (Lisa Carlsen’s daughter) and Julia “Bubba” Sollberger to National Letters of...

Then-senior guard Chelby Koker (10) dribbles the ball to an open part of the court while then-junior forward Tara Stauffacher (21) defends Koker from University of Akron’s then-sophomore forward Reagan Bass (34) on Feb. 8 at the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies fell to Western Illinois by a final score of 95-62 on Saturday. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Women’s basketball dominated in blowout loss

By Lucas Didier, Former Sports Editor | November 12, 2023

Poor paint defense and shooting struggles resulted in a 95-62 blowout loss to the Western Illinois University Leathernecks (2-1) to leave NIU women’s basketball (0-2) searching for its first win. The Huskies started strong with a 7-point run to begin...

Members of the NIU volleyball team huddle during Saturday’s road match at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. The Huskies fell in five sets to close out their road schedule. (Bobby Ellis | Ball State Athletics)

Volleyball drops road finale

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

It’s Set 5 at John E. Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana, and NIU volleyball is on the cusp of victory in its 2023 road finale. Leading 6-3, NIU was positioned to pull off the road upset of MAC rival Ball State University, spoil the Cardinals’ Senior...

Planck leads cross country at NCAA Midwest Regional

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | November 11, 2023

DeKALB – Led by graduate student runner Emma Planck, all four NIU cross-country participants finished within the top-175 in the 6-kilometer run at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday. The Huskies failed to achieve a team score.  “I’m happy...

Sophomore outside hitter Nazli Güvener (17), celebrates winning a point with teammate junior outside hitter Nikolette Nedic (21), during Friday's match against the University of Toledo. The Huskies were eliminated from postseason contention after their 3-1 loss to Ball State on Friday. (Josephine Dunmore | Northern Star)

Volleyball thwarted in 4 at Ball State

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

The NIU volleyball team kicked off its final road series of the regular season with a performance that extended a streak and ended dreams. Unfortunately for the Huskies, their losing streak extended and postseason dreams ended. NIU’s (8-20, 6-10...

NIU graduate student right side hitter Isabelle Percoco hits the ball during a rally in the Oct. 27 match against the University of Akron. The Huskies fell in three sets as one of their seven consecutive defeats entering Friday’s series-opener against Ball State University. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Volleyball braces for Ball State battle

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

DeKALB – Play smarter, not harder. The four words used by NIU volleyball head coach Sondra Parys to describe the goal for her squad in preparation for its final road trip of the regular season. The Huskies (8-19, 6-9 MAC) will travel eastbound...

Junior guard Jayden Marable (3) drives to the basket as Miami University senior guard Peyton Scott (24) defends during Jan. 23's Mid-American Conference matchup between the Huskies and RedHawks at the NIU Convocation Center. NIU women's basketball lost its first game of the 2023-2024 season to Arkansas State University 75-62. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Women’s basketball falls in first game of MAC-SBC Challenge

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | November 9, 2023

DeKALB – NIU women’s basketball kicked off its first regular season game with a 75-62 loss against the Arkansas State University Red Wolves.  As a team, the Huskies struggled to knock down shots, forcing them to play from behind throughout the...

Kaci Luptak pinches the rope to keep Alpha Sigma Alpha from gaining the knot on Wednesday. Alpha Phi moves on to face Sigma Sigma Sigma. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Alpha Phi downs Alpha Sigma Alpha, advances to Tugs title match

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

DeKALB – “Looks like it’s third place again, ladies!” one fan yelled to the freshly-defeated Alpha Sigma Alpha tuggers. It was one of the many chants and jeers thrown out by the crowd gathered on Wednesday at 912 Edgebrook Drive during the...

NIU volleyball players celebrate after NIU junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo blocks the ball against the University of Akron on Oct. 27. The Huskies were swept by the Toledo Rockets on Saturday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Toledo spoils volleyball’s Senior Day

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

DeKALB – No. 2, No. 3, No. 12 and No. 15. Those were the jersey numbers of the NIU volleyball team’s seniors the players fought for on Senior Day. The Huskies (8-19, 6-9 MAC) brought fierce fight to the match but came up short in Saturday’s...