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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

Freshman outside hitter Emma McCartney (6) gets ready to serve the ball Aug. 30 against Western Illinois University. NIU volleyball lost in five sets to Valparaiso University Thursday for its third-straight loss. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Huskies drop third straight with loss to Valparaiso

By James Bennett, Sports Reporter | September 5, 2024

NIU volleyball (0-3) tripped up again in its third outing of the season Thursday, losing to the Valparaiso University Beacons (1-3). This was the first of a seven road game stretch and was the second game in a row where the Huskies fell in 5 sets.  INABILITY...

Freshman outside hitter Ava Grevengoed (left) and senior middle blocker Charli Atiemo attempt a block Friday at the Convocation Center. NIU volleyball lost in five sets to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Sunday to fall to 0-2 on the season. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Volleyball shows flashes but falters against Milwaukee

By James Bennett, Sports Reporter | September 1, 2024

DeKALB - NIU Volleyball (0-2) dropped a close one to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers (2-1), losing in 5 sets in the second game of its 2024 campaign.  INEFFICIENT OFFENSE  NIU’s aggression was on display once again as they attempted...

Graduate student goalkeeper Ary Purifoy (00) holds the ball and looks for a teammate downfield Thursday at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Purifoy earned her second shutout of the season Sunday as NIU women's soccer defeated Oakland University 1-0. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Women’s soccer outlasts Oakland

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | September 1, 2024

NIU women’s soccer (3-0-1) inched past the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies (1-4-1) Sunday with a score of 1-0 to earn its third win in a row. Sophomore forward Tyra King scored the lone goal in the 59th minute, assisted by junior forward Kelsi...

Freshman outside hitter Ava Grevengoed winds up for a serve Friday at the Convocation Center. Grevengoed recorded 5 service aces and 9 kills in a four set loss to Western Illinois University in the 2024 season opener. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Volleyball tumbles in season opener

By James Bennett, Sports Reporter | August 30, 2024

DeKALB - NIU volleyball (0-1) fell short against the Western Illinois University Leathernecks (1-0), losing in four sets in its 2024 season debut Friday. This breaks the Huskies’ five game winning streak over the Leathernecks and is NIU’s second straight...

Sophomore forward Tyra King (5) celebrates with her NIU team members after scoring the first goal of the game. King led the team with two goals as the Huskies defeated the University of Southern Indiana 6-1 on Thursday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

King leads 6-1 win over USI

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | August 29, 2024

DeKALB – NIU women’s soccer (2-0-1) soared over the University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (0-3-1) with a 6-1 victory as sophomore forward Tyra King notched her first two goals of the season. King started the scoring early, receiving...

Members of the NIU volleyball team huddle on Nov. 11, 2023, during a road match at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. The Huskies begin the 2024 season Friday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Volleyball seeks rebound in 2024

By James Bennett, Sports Reporter | August 28, 2024

Rebuild and Redemption. Those are good words to describe the outlook for NIU volleyball as it approaches the start of the 2024 season.  Coming off the heels of an 8-22 season, NIU volleyball head coach Sondra D’Amore is looking for her unit to reinforce...

Senior forward Kevin Kelly (10) approaches the ball Sunday at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. Men's and women's soccer have added 22 new student-athletes for the 2024 season as the Huskies look to expand on conference championship tournament appearances in 2023. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

New faces lead charge for men’s and women’s soccer

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | August 26, 2024

Successful seasons for both NIU men’s and women’s soccer, with trips to the MVC and MAC championship tournaments last season, respectively, leave both teams with expectations for improvement.  While the men’s team advanced further in the MVC...

A graphic displays photos of NIU student-athletes from football, volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer. Sports Editor Lucas Didier shares his most important focus areas for each of NIU's fall sports teams. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

COLUMN: How the Huskies can excel in fall 2024

By Lucas Didier, Sports Editor | August 25, 2024

Victories in the Camellia Bowl and the opening round of the MVC Tournament contributed to a fairly successful Fall 2023 season for NIU, but there is plenty of room for the Huskies to surpass themselves in 2024. Here’s how NIU can step up its game...

Senior Julia Finegan (2) runs at the Redbird Tune Up on Feb. 16. Finegan finished third in the 800-meter run at the Fighting Illini Tune Up on Saturday. (Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics)

Huskies net 2 first place finishes in visit to Urbana-Champaign

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | May 5, 2024

Senior Tara Stauffacher’s first place finish in shot put highlighted NIU women’s track and field's successful day at the Fighting Illini Tune Up.  Stauffacher championed shot put with her best throw measuring in at 12.13 meters, beating out second...

Senior catcher/outfielder Ellis Erickson dives back to first base on Tuesday at Mary M. Bell Field. NIU softball dropped all three games of its regular season finale against Miami University on Saturday. (Northern Star File Photo)

Softball swept in series versus No. 25 RedHawks

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | May 5, 2024

DeKALB – NIU softball (18-34, 9-19 MAC) mustered four total runs in weekend action against the 25th-ranked Miami University RedHawks (45-7, 26-1 MAC) on Saturday and Sunday at Mary M. Bell Field to conclude the regular season. The Huskies were blanked...

Junior middle infielder/outfielder Avery Carnahan hits an RBI single in the third inning of Game 2 on Tuesday. Carnahan drove in three runs on Tuesday as NIU softball split a doubleheader with Ball State University. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Huskies hammer Ball State with home-run frenzy

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | April 30, 2024

DeKALB – The NIU softball team totaled five home runs Tuesday as the Huskies split their home doubleheader against Ball State University at Mary M. Bell Field. The Huskies (18-31, 9-16 MAC) began the action with a dominant 9-2 victory before falling...

Sophomore Ari Christian (left) and graduate student Aasiyah Barr (right) run at the Redbird Tune-Up on Feb. 16. NIU track and field took four first-place finishes across the Kip Janzrin Open, ONU Outdoor Invitational and Drake Relays over the weekend. (Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics)

Huskies win four events in three meet weekend

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | April 28, 2024

NIU women’s track and field traveled to three different invitationals this weekend and took home nine top-five finishes, four of which being first place finishes.  KIP JANVRIN OPEN The Huskies traveled to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, for...