Northern Illinois University Athletics

One of the best players in the history of NIU Volleyball, Kate McCullagh was the first player in NIU Volleyball history to receive AVCA All-America honors when she was recognized as an honorable mention recipient as a senior in 2006. McCullagh finished her outstanding NIU career with a school record 1,936 kills and she ranks fourth in program history with 496 total blocks 

In her first season at NIU in 2003, McCullagh earned MAC All-Freshman Team honors as she ranked ninth in the conference with 1.12 blocks per game. McCullagh earned honorable mention All-MAC recognition the following season as she ranked ninth in the league in kills per game (3.67), seventh in blocks per game (1.19) and eighth in points per game (4.42). The Woodstock, Ill., native recorded double figure kills in 28-of-33 matches during the 2004 season, including a streak of 17-straight between Sept. 10 and Oct. 20. 

As a junior in 2005, McCullagh finished seventh in the country in kills, averaging 5.39 per game, as she earned Second Team All-MAC honors. McCullagh's 690 total kills remains the second-most in a single-season in program history. She recorded 20-or-more kills 18 times during the 2005 season and posted double-digit kills in all 33 matches.  

McCullagh capped her remarkable Huskie career in 2006 by earning the MAC Player of the Year award, along with AVAC Honorable Mention All-America and AVCA All-Mideast Region recognition. She finished fourth nationally with 5.74 kills per game, recording 20-plus kills in 10 matches and 30-plus kills in seven matches, including a career-best 34 kills twice, which still ranks as the fifth-best single-match mark in NIU history. A First Team All-MAC honoree, McCullagh helped the Huskies win the MAC West Division crown during her senior season. She remains one of just four players in program history to earn All-America honors and one of five to be named MAC Player of the Year.