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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

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...

Junior forward Taylor Davis winds up a kick on Sunday at the NIU Soccer and Track & Field Complex. NIU men's soccer defeated Chicago State University 4-2 in the Huskies' 2024 home opener. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Men’s soccer takes home opener 4-2

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | August 25, 2024

With four Huskies scoring their first goal in a NIU uniform, NIU men’s soccer bounced back from a 1-0 defeat in the season opener with a 4-2 win over the Chicago State University Cougars.  NIU men’s soccer head coach Ryan Swan touched on the difference...

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...

Licensed NIU merchandise is displayed inside an apparel store located inside the Convocation Center. NIU will open two permanent apparel store locations in the fall. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

NIU Athletics unveils plans for on-campus apparel stores

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | August 8, 2024

DeKALB – NIU Athletics announced plans Thursday to open two Huskie Apparel Store locations this fall inside the Convocation Center and Recreation Center. The stores will offer Adidas products, including official team-worn lines and replica jerseys,...

A graphic displays 10 photos of NIU student-athletes from various athletic programs under a red box with white lettering. The Northern Star Sports Staff compiled its top-10 NIU Athletics programs of the academic year. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Ranking the Top-10 NIU Athletics programs of 2023-24

By Northern Star Sports Staff | May 2, 2024

There have been plenty of ups and downs throughout the 2023-24 academic year across the 16 sports that make up NIU Athletics. As the spring semester closes, the Northern Star Sports Staff focuses on the ups. From MAC Championships to stunning individual...

Sophomore Isabella Righi serves on March 9 at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. NIU women's 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...

Sophomore Iker Gaztambide Arrastia winds up for a strike on March 2 at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. NIU men's tennis lost 4-3 to Western Michigan University on Sunday to drop to the No. 2 seed in the MAC Championship. (Northern Star File Photo)

Men’s tennis drops to No. 2 seed in regular season finale

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | April 15, 2024

Ending the regular season tied for second place in the MAC, NIU men’s tennis (18-5, 7-3 MAC) fell to Western Michigan University (16-5, 8-2 MAC) in the regular season finale. The Huskies went up 3-0 after clinching the doubles point and winning two...

Senior Anastasia Rakita prepares to serve on March 9 at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. NIU women's 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...

Freshman Sam Klein (left) and sophomore Iker Gaztambide Arrastia (right) reach for a handshake at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Gaztambide Arrastia won his doubles match with sophomore Christopher Norlin as NIU defeated Ball State University 5-2. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Men’s tennis wins 9th straight with win over Ball State

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 9, 2024

Adding another win to the now nine match win streak, NIU men’s tennis (11-2, 1-0 MAC) defeated Ball State University (6-6, 0-1 MAC) 5-2, earning its first conference win. The Huskies won two of the three matches to clinch the doubles point, dropping...

Sophomore Jenna Horne winds up a shot at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Horne won her doubles match with junior Reagan Welch 6-4 as NIU defeated Lewis University 5-2. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Women’s tennis defeats Lewis, wins third straight

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 9, 2024

Winning its third straight match, NIU women’s tennis defeated Lewis University (8-3) by a score of 5-2, improving to a 9-5 record on the season.  The Huskies won two matches to clinch the doubles point, leaving the third match incomplete. Senior...

Then-junior Mikael Vollbach stands ready to receive a serve during men's tennis' match against the University of Illinois Chicago on Feb. 22, 2023. Vollbach won all three of his matches Saturday, including his doubles match with senior Cheng En Tsai and the dual-clinching singles match against University of Nebraska Omaha. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Men’s tennis take two decisive victories

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | March 3, 2024

Improving to 10-2 on the season, NIU men’s tennis defeated both Southern University (0-9) and the University of Nebraska Omaha (10-6) on Saturday.  Defeating Southern 7-0 with two doubles and four singles matches being played, only five Huskies...

Junior Reagan Welch prepares for a strike at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House. Welch won her singles match against Valparaiso University sophomore Elizabeth Sobieski Saturday, as well as her doubles match with senior Anastasia Rakita. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Women’s tennis sneaks past Valparaiso

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | February 27, 2024

NIU women’s tennis slid past Valparaiso University (7-5) in a 4-3 win and improved to a 7-5 record on the season on Saturday. The Huskies fought in both singles and doubles en route to the victory, and wins in both were crucial.  Senior Diana...