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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

From left: Junior defensive specialist/libero Jada Cerniglia, senior setter Ella Mihacevich, junior libero Crew Hoffmeier, senior opposite/outside hitter Emily Dykes, sophomore middle blocker Savanah Brandt and graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann rejoice after a rally in NIU's homecoming matchup with the Eastern Michigan University Eagles on Oct. 13 at Victor E. Court. The Huskies will host the University of Akron on Friday and the University at Buffalo on Saturday in hopes of remaining undefeated at Victor E. Court. (Skyler Kisellus | Northern Star)

Huskies to host Zips, Bulls in homestand

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

NIU volleyball is more than halfway through MAC play and holds a soft grip of the final playoff seed as it prepares for battle with two of the country’s best serving squads. NIU (8-15, 6-5 MAC) will play host to the University of Akron (10-12, 5-6...

Sophomore midfielder Aubrey Robertson kicks the ball away against the University at Buffalo on Oct. 12. The Huskies fell to Bowling Green State University 1-0 on Thursday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Women’s soccer falls in regular season finale

By Ethan Gonzales, Former Sports Editor | October 26, 2023

NIU women’s soccer ended its 2023 regular season on a sour note with a 1-0 loss to Bowling Green State University.  The Huskies have also lost their opportunity at home-field advantage for the quarterfinals of the MAC Tournament. A Kent State University...

NIU cross country head coach Juan Carrillo takes in the scene at an NIU event. Carrillo is in his first year as head coach of NIU cross country. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Culture shifter: The Carrillo effect on NIU cross country

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | October 26, 2023

11 years ago, NIU cross country head coach Juan Carrillo was immersed in a pursuit of one of the ultimate achievements in all of sports: Olympic contention.  Fast forward to the present, Carrillo has amassed a wealth of coaching experience, achieved...

NIU graduate outside hitter Katie Erdmann serves the ball during the Huskies' Oct. 13 match against Eastern Michigan University at Victor E. Court. Erdmann joined the Huskies for her final season of college volleyball this fall after spending the past four years playing at the University of Southern Mississippi and the Florida Institute of Technology. (Skyler Kisellus | Northern Star)

Third time’s the charm: Erdmann’s journey to NIU

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 25, 2023

Head to Victor E. Court for a Tuesday morning NIU volleyball practice. Pay close enough attention between reps, and one might be able to witness the jocular antics perpetrated by graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann. One day, Erdmann might...

Then-sophomore Isabella Sissi posing during her floor routine at the EMU gymnastics meet. Sissi scored 38.250 for her all-around performance in the meet. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Gymnastics releases 2024 schedule

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 23, 2023

DeKALB – NIU gymnastics is slated to play four competitions at home in 2024 after the team’s schedule was announced Friday. "I'm very excited about the opportunities we're going to have over the next year," said NIU gymnastics head coach Sam Morreale...

The NIU women’s soccer team huddles together before their match against Buffalo. The Huskies clinched a MAC Tournament berth with a victory over the Central Michigan University Chippewas on Sunday. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Women’s soccer defeats CMU, clinches MAC Tournament berth

By Ethan Gonzales, Former Sports Editor | October 22, 2023

A second straight shutout performance from NIU women’s soccer’s defense pushed the Huskies past Central Michigan University by a final score of 1-0. Redshirt senior goalkeeper Sadie McGill kept the aggressive Chippewa attack at bay, as she recorded...

NIU graduate right side hitter Isabelle Percoco (2) and sophomore middle blocker Savanah Brandt (18) attempt to block Central Michigan University junior outside hitter Lauren Schrock's (3) attack attempt during Saturday's meeting, featuring the conference-rivaling Huskies and Chippewas. Percoco led the Huskies' efforts with 14 kills to match her career-high and assisted on three blocks in NIU's 3-1 loss. (Josie Ransley | CMU Athletics)

NIU suffers CMU series sweep, moves to three straight losses

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 21, 2023

After being the MAC’s fourth-ranked squad eight days ago, the NIU volleyball team is experiencing free fall after sustaining its third consecutive loss in the span of five days. NIU (8-15, 6-5 MAC) was undone in four sets,15-25, 25-16, 24-26, 18-25,...

From left: Graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann, junior setter Sophie Hurt, junior libero Crew Hoffmeier, junior outside hitter Nikolette Nedic, sophomore middle blocker Savanah Brandt and graduate student outside hitter Isabelle Percoco gather into a huddle during NIU's Oct. 13 matchup with the Eastern Michigan University Eagles at Victor E. Court. The Huskies suffered their second consecutive sweep in Friday's series-opener against Central Michigan University. (Skyler Kisellus | Northern Star)

Volleyball suffers sweep at Central Michigan

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 21, 2023

Kills aplenty, two pivotal challenges and a battle past 25 points, all in the first set of a match seemingly destined to go the distance. Instead, it was just the beginning of NIU volleyball’s downhill slide to utter defeat. The Huskies (8-14,...

Freshman forward Tyra King dribbles the ball past a University at Buffalo defender. NIU women's soccer defeated Ball State University on Thursday after a last-minute goal from King. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

King dethrones Ball State with last minute goal

By Ethan Gonzales, Former Sports Editor | October 19, 2023

DeKALB – A 90th minute, game-winning goal in the NIU women’s soccer match against Ball State University sent the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex into a frenzy. Assisted by senior midfielder Abby Zipse, freshman forward Tyra King netted...

From left: Junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo, graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann, junior setter Sophie Hurt, graduate student right side hitter Isabelle Percoco, junior outside hitter Nikolette Nedic and sophomore middler blocker Savanah Brandt celebrate after a rally against Eastern Michigan University on Friday at Victor E. Court. The Huskies look to get back in the win column after falling short against Western Michigan University on Tuesday. (Skyler Kisellus | Northern Star)

Huskies to attempt bounce-back in Central Michigan

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 19, 2023

Days removed from a failed upset bid against the MAC’s top squad and a busted winning streak, NIU volleyball hopes to find redemption in the heart of Michigan’s lower peninsula. The Huskies (8-13, 6-3 MAC) continue their road stretch with a two-match...

Graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann taps the ball over two Western Michigan University defenders. The Huskies were swept by the Broncos on Tuesday 3-0. (Courtesy WMU Athletics | Ashley Huss)

Huskies throttled by Broncos in MACtion duel

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 17, 2023

Tuesday promised a heavy-hitting MACtion showdown featuring NIU volleyball and its stout defense against Western Michigan University and its high-powered offense. By night’s end, the Huskies’ aspirations of upsetting the MAC front-runner on the...

Then-junior Jasmine Ly shoots at the MAC Tournament from April 21 to April 23. Ly tied the NIU record for lowest round score at the Johnie Imes Invitational and earned MAC Golfer of the Week. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Ly shines, Huskies struggle at Pat Bradley Invitational

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 17, 2023

DeKALB – NIU women’s golf closed out its fall season on a bad note, finishing 11th place out of 12 teams at the Pat Bradley Invitational at Florida International University. After finishing top five in its first tournament of the 2023-2024 season,...