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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 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 Staff's MAC softball All-Star squad. (Northern Star File Photo)

COLUMN: Building the 2024 MAC All-Star softball team

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior 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 Colin Summerhill stands over home plate in an NIU baseball home game against Western Michigan University on April 14, 2023. Summerhill was named to the Northern Star Sports Staff's MAC baseball All-Star squad. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Assembling the 2024 MAC baseball All-Star team

By Zachary Bertram and Joseph Segreti | April 22, 2024

With the MAC baseball season a little more than halfway over, now is the perfect time to create our own MAC baseball All-Star team.  CATCHER: NIU senior Colin Summerhill  The backstop of the Huskies currently leads the MAC in home runs with 17...

Junior defensive specialist/libero Jada Cerniglia prepares to serve in an NIU volleyball home game against the University of Akron on Oct. 27, 2023. The MAC announced a new schedule format for conference games on March 27. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

MAC, NIU volleyball announce 2024 conference slate

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | April 3, 2024

DeKALB – For the first time since 2009, NIU volleyball will start and finish MAC play on the road, according to the team’s 2024 conference schedule announced by the MAC on March 27. The release also intrigued a new scheduling format that eliminates...

NIU freshman gymnast Isabella Ross places a crown upon freshman Dawsyn Sallee’s head during the Huskies’ home quad-meet Sunday at the Convocation Center. Sallee received MAC Specialist of the Week honors Tuesday after posting NIU’s highest scores on vault and beam at the meet. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Sallee named MAC Specialist of the Week

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | February 27, 2024

DeKALB – NIU freshman gymnast Dawsyn Sallee became the first Huskie this season to receive MAC weekly honors Tuesday after being named the conference’s Specialist of the Week. Sallee competed on vault and floor exercise as the Huskies took first...

Sophomore Nataly Ninova (left) and junior Erika Dimitriev celebrate a point during an NIU women's tennis home match against the University of Wisconsin on Saturday. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Dimitriev, Ninova snag MAC doubles weekly honor

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 23, 2024

DeKALB – NIU women’s tennis’ No. 1 doubles team of junior Erika Dimitriev and sophomore Nataly Ninova secured the first MAC Doubles Team of the Week honor of the 2024 dual match season after routing a ranked opponent, the conference office announced...

Sophomore middle blocker Savanah Brandt (18) jumps to spike the ball over the net against the University of Akron on Oct. 27. The Huskies are looking to snap a five-game losing streak against Toledo this weekend. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Huskies to host Rockets in final home weekend

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 3, 2023

The NIU volleyball team kicks off the final month of the regular season with its final weekend series played at Victor E. Court. NIU (8-17, 6-7 MAC) will host the University of Toledo (10-14, 8-5 MAC) on Friday and Saturday to close out its four-game...

Redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi hands the ball off to redshirt junior running back Gavin Williams in a 35-11 loss against the University of Nebraska. The Huskies travel to Central Michigan looking to stay ahead of the Chippewas in the MAC West standings. (Mark Kuhlmann | NIU Athletics)

Football preparing for Central Michigan battle

By Zachary Bertram, Senior Sports Reporter | October 29, 2023

DeKALB – After earning its third consecutive victory, with a 20-13 win over Eastern Michigan University and clawing back to a .500 record after a 1-4 start, NIU football (4-4, 3-1 MAC) travels to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to take on the Central Michigan...

Junior outside hitter Nikolette Nedic spikes a ball against the University at Buffalo on Saturday. The Huskies fell to the Bulls in four sets. (Sasha Norman | Northern Star)

Volleyball messes with Bulls, gets the horns

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 29, 2023

DeKALB – The NIU volleyball team’s valiant efforts in the final two sets of Saturday’s MAC duel weren’t enough to survive the offensive onslaught inflicted by its visitors. The Huskies (8-17, 6-7 MAC) plummeted to No. 9 in the MAC standings...

NIU defensive specialist/libero Jada Cerniglia serves the ball during Friday’s MAC battle between the Huskies and the University of Akron Zips. NIU was undone in three sets to extend its losing streak to four matches. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Volleyball blanked by Akron in straight sets

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | October 28, 2023

DeKALB – Possession of the MAC’s final playoff seed has slipped through the grip of NIU volleyball, now fresh off its third sweep in four contests. The Huskies (8-16, 6-6 MAC) sustained their fourth-consecutive loss after falling in three sets,...

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,...

NIU freshman tennis player Iker Gaztambide Arrastia completes a serve against University of Toledo’s Marko Galic, a senior, during their singles match on April 7 at DeKalb High School. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Three Huskies earn MAC postseason honors

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

DeKALB - Three of NIU's men’s tennis team members received post-season honors, NIU announced Wednesday Iker Gaztambide Arrastia won the MAC Freshman of the Year award while senior Oliver Valentinsson and junior Mikael Vollbach secured Second Team...

Senior guard Chelby Koker shooting a free throw in Saturday's upset victory over Ball State University. (Alyssa Queen)

Huskies upset Ball State, halt Cardinals’ winning streak

By Eddie Miller, Sports Reporter | February 18, 2023

DeKALB – NIU women’s basketball (14-11, 6-8 MAC) upset the No. 1 ranked team in the Mid-American Conference for the second consecutive game, beating Ball State University (22-5, 12-2 MAC) by a final score of 84-77.  Coming off an 85-81 win against...