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Northern Star

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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 graduate student right side hitter Isabelle Percoco celebrates after a rally in the Huskies’ season-opener against Chicago State University on Aug. 25 at the NIU Convocation Center. NIU split its recent away series against Bowling Green State University on Thursday and Friday to begin MAC play at .500. (Courtesy NIU Athletics)

COLUMN: Volleyball may have found its spark

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

NIU volleyball’s non-conference schedule began with a 1-3 start to mark the beginning of a new era. After just two matches against conference competition, the Huskies have set themselves up for the opportunity to flip the script and roll to a 3-1 start...

Graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann earned her first career honor after her performances against Bowling Green State University on Thursday and Friday. Erdmann recorded 17 kills in a 3-2 victory over the Falcons on Friday. (Eddie Miller | Northern Star)

Erdmann collects Huskie of the Week after double double-doubles

By Northern Star Sports Staff | September 25, 2023

DeKALB – A pair of double-double performances against Bowling Green State University have enabled NIU volleyball graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann to take home her first Huskie of the Week honor. The Forreston native was a key factor...

NIU graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann serves the ball during NIU's Sept. 15 match against the University of Dayton Flyers at the UNI Tournament. Erdmann recorded a double-double in both of the Huskies' matches against Bowling Green State University on Thursday and Friday. (Logan Colglaizer | UNI Athletics)

Huskies survive 5-set firefight in Bowling Green

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 22, 2023

In the thick of a MACtion showdown that began with a lopsided opening set and ended in a five-set thriller, the NIU volleyball team engineered its best in-game turnaround of the season to claim its first MAC victory. NIU (3-11, 1-1 MAC) outlasted Bowling...

Graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann, junior libero Crew Hoffmeier, junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo, sophomore defensive specialist Olivia Hogan, junior defensive specialist Jada Cerniglia and senior setter Ella Mihacevich celebrate after a rally during Friday’s season-opening match against Chicago State University at the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies were defeated 3-2. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Volleyball falls in four to Falcons

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 22, 2023

Playing in front of a crowd of 865 in enemy territory, the NIU volleyball team churned out 20 kills, .333 hitting and 30 points in the opening frame of Thursday’s MAC opener against Bowling Green State University — the reigning league champions.  The...

Junior libero Crew Hoffmeier recording a dig against Chicago State University on Aug. 26. The Huskies were defeated by the Cougars 3-2. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

NIU to begin MAC play at Bowling Green

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 20, 2023

NIU volleyball is set to receive its first dose of MACtion this week as the Huskies travel eastward for a road clash with the conference titleholders.  The Huskies (2-10) open their conference schedule with a two-match series at Bowling Green State...

NIU junior defensive specialist/libero Jada Cerniglia serves the ball during a Sept. 8 match against DePaul University during the DePaul Invitational at McGrath-Phillips Arena in Chicago. Cerniglia has nine service aces on the 2023 season, tied for second place on the Huskies. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

COLUMN: In defense of NIU volleyball

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

Two wins, 10 losses and rock bottom in the MAC standings. Not a great start to a season by any stretch of the imagination.  That is where the NIU volleyball team stands through 12 matches, all against non-conference competition. This column was...

`NIU junior libero Crew Hoffmeier digs a ball during the Huskies’ Aug. 25 match against Chicago State University at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb. Hoffmeier was named the Week 4 MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after a 47-dig effort at the UNI Tournament. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Hoffmeier pockets MAC weekly honors

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 18, 2023

NIU volleyball junior libero Crew Hoffmeier has been named the Week 4 Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.  "I'm really glad to see Crew honored because she has been working very hard since day...

NIU junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo digs up a ball during Friday’s match between the NIU Huskies and the University of Dayton Flyers. The Huskies went on to fall in three sets to UNI Tournament host University of Northern Iowa on Saturday, ending the weekend with a 2-1 record in the tournament. (Logan Colglaizer | UNI Athletics)

Huskies collared by Panthers in non-conference closer

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

One day removed from a crushing defeat followed by a resounding win to open the UNI Tournament, NIU volleyball was forcefully brought back to earth by a “Northern” foe. NIU’s post-win fire was extinguished by an overpowering performance by the...

Graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann, junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo, senior opposite/outside hitter Emily Dykes, senior setter Ella Mihacevich, junior libero Crew Hoffmeier and junior defensive specialist/libero Jada Cerniglia celebrate after a rally in Friday’s morning match between NIU and the University of Dayton at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Huskies fell to Dayton in three sets before sweeping the University of North Dakota in the following match for their first shutout victory of the season. (Logan Colglaizer | UNI Athletics)

Volleyball bags first sweep, snaps six-game skid

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

From suffering a sweep to dishing one out. From the worst hitting percentage in a match to the best. All in a matter of hours. A tale of two extremes. That tale tells the story of NIU volleyball’s first day of action Saturday at the UNI Tournament...

NIU junior libero Crew Hoffmeier (1) serves the ball to the University of Evansville during Friday’s matchup between the Huskies and Purple Aces at the DePaul Invitational in Chicago. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Volleyball stonewalled in Chicago, rocky start persists

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

Like you might find its players doing on the sideline during a mid-match challenge, NIU volleyball has found itself in a limbo near the end of its non-conference stretch. After losing every one of its matches at the DePaul Invitational in Chicago this...

NIU senior opposite/outside hitter Emily Dykes attacks the ball against a pair of blocking University of Evansville players during Friday’s meeting between the Huskies and Purple Aces at McGrath-Phillips in Chicago. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Volleyball ends Chicago road trip winless

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

Knocking on the door of a win on the final day of the DePaul Invitational, the NIU volleyball team was answered with a harsh ending. On match point and leading 15-14 in Saturday’s fifth and deciding set, the Huskies surrendered a 3-0 scoring run....

Graduate student outside hitter Katie Erdmann, junior libero Crew Hoffmeier, junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo, sophomore defensive specialist Olivia Hogan, junior defensive specialist Jada Cerniglia and senior setter Ella Mihacevich celebrate after a rally during Friday’s season-opening match against Chicago State University at the NIU Convocation Center. The Huskies were defeated 3-2. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Volleyball readies for Chi-town showdowns

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

DeKALB – The one-win NIU volleyball team, back from a two-day spell on the East Coast, has set their sights on success in the Windy City. NIU will play its third out-of-conference tournament of the season – and second on the road – at the DePaul...