Wicinski Leads Huskies to Volleyball Sweep

NIU Invitational -- Check.  UIC Invitational -- Check.  Now add the Elon Classic to the Northern Illinois volleyball team's list of first place finishes in 2010. Resuming the program's most outstanding start to a season, the Huskies swept Stetson, 25-22, 25-18, 25-17, on Saturday afternoon to advance to 11-0 and claim their third invitational title in as many weekends.

Freshman outside hitter Lauren Wicinski (Geneva) led the Huskies with 13 kills, 12 digs, and an ace for her fifth double-double.  For her weekend performance, Wicinski earned her third consecutive all-tournament selection as she totaled team-highs of 44 points (4.40/set) and 38 kills (3.80/set), along with 22 digs (2.20/set) and five aces (0.50/set).

Joining Wicinski on the all-tournament team for the second occasion this season was Kurisch, who tallied eight kills and a .467 hitting percentage with two blocks and an ace against Stetson.  Her totals for the tournament include 26.5 points (2.65.set), 18 kills (1.80/set), a team-high seven blocks (0.70/set), and five aces (0.50/set).

The reason Wicinski and Mary Kurisch were able to have successful weekends was due large in part to tournament MVP Kristin Hoffman (Batavia, Ill./Batavia).  The junior setter notched 32 assists, seven digs, and an ace in the final match of the Elon Classic. 

Story courtesy of NIU's sports information department.