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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Junior libero Crew Hoffmeier serves the ball during a Nov. 11 match against Ball State University at John E. Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana. NIU volleyball finished its 2023 campaign with a final record of 8-22, a record that Sports Reporter Skyler Kisellus believes doesn't define the team and its future. (Amber Pietz | Ball State Creative Services)

COLUMN: Volleyball played better than its record

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | November 30, 2023

With NIU volleyball’s 2023 campaign now over and a 22-loss season in the books, the Sondra Parys coaching era at NIU is off to a solid start. Before anyone begins questioning my sobriety, know that I’m not blind to the results from this past season. Yes,...

From left: NIU senior opposite/outside hitter Emily Dykes (12), junior middle blocker Charli Atiemo (11) and sophomore outside hitter Nazli Güvener (17) look on during Friday’s match against the University of Toledo at Victor E. Court. The Huskies fell in four sets to the Rockets, extending their losing streak to six consecutive matches. (Josephine Dunmore | Northern Star)

Huskies scorched by Rockets, lose sixth-straight

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

DeKALB – NIU volleyball’s struggles continue after the awaited matchup between first-year NIU volleyball head coach Sondra Parys’ Huskies and her alma mater, the University of Toledo, ended in NIU’s third consecutive home defeat. Toledo (11-14,...

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, 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...

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...

NIU volleyball head coach Sondra Parys talks with her team courtside during the Huskies' season-opening match against Chicago State University on Aug. 25 at the NIU Convocation Center. Parys earned her first win as an NCAA Division I head coach Friday, a 3-2 victory over the University of North Carolina Wilmington. (Scott Walstrom | NIU Athletics)

Volleyball’s Sondra Parys bags first win as head coach

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | September 1, 2023

Four matches into her first season leading NIU volleyball, first-year head coach Sondra Parys has reached the first major milestone in her young coaching career: her first win. The Huskies outlasted the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks...

Senior setter Ella Mihacevich rises up to hit the volleyball in a Saturday matchup against the University of Illinois. (Scott Walstrom | Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Volleyball begins Parys’ era winless

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

DeKALB – The debut of NIU volleyball’s first-year head coach Sondra Parys has come and gone, and the Huskies remain winless to begin the tenure of their new leader. More than nine months after missing out on a MAC Tournament bid by four tiebreakers...

Middle blocker Savanah Brandt joins NIU volleyball as its first addition under new head coach Sondra Parys (Courtesy Belmont Athletics)

NIU volleyball adds Belmont transfer Savanah Brandt

By Northern Star Sports Staff | January 25, 2023

DeKALB – Sondra Parys, the newly-hired head coach of NIU volleyball, has made her first addition to the team’s roster as the program announced the signing of Savanah Brandt on Tuesday. Brandt, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker, will join the Huskies as...

A graphic featuring a photo of NIU men’s basketball playing against Central Michigan University last week on Tuesday at the NIU Convocation Center. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

IN PICTURES: Sports between the semesters

By Sean Reed, Photo Editor | January 16, 2023

NIU President Lisa Freeman, NIU volleyball head coach Sondra Parys and NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier hold an NIU volleyball jersey bearing the No. 7, representing Parys' status as the Huskies' seventh head coach in program history. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU welcomes Sondra Parys to Huskie country

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 12, 2023

DeKALB – Standing at the podium in front of the crowd gathered at Victor E. Court during her first appearance as the new head coach of NIU volleyball on Tuesday, Sondra Parys shared a brief moment with her father, Joe. “I know you’ve always wanted...

Former Loyola University Chicago assistant coach Sondra Parys was hired to lead NIU's volleyball program Thursday. (Loyola Chicago Athletics)

NIU tabs Sondra Parys to lead Huskie volleyball

By Northern Star Sports Staff | December 15, 2022
NIU Athletics has hired former Loyola Chicago assistant coach Sondra Parys to take the reins of its volleyball program.