Feb. 21, 2013

DEKALB, Ill. – Senior Mary Kurisch was named the Most Important Player at the Northern Illinois Volleyball banquet Saturday night as the team officially closed the book on their 2012 season.
 
The award is one of several given out at the team’s annual banquet for excellence on the court and in the classroom. Each honor is voted on by members of the team.
 
Kurisch earned the honor after posting a team-best .299 hitting percentage in all 36 matches in 2012. The La Crosse, Wis., native led the Huskies with 27 solo blocks and 130 total blocks on the year, while also posting 344 kills during the season.
 
Junior Justine Schepler was named the Salvani Spirit Award winner for 2012. The Salvani Spirit Award goes to the player the exemplifies the spirit of former NIU player Karen Salvani, who was known as a team player who loved to play the game – making the team experience an integral part of the Huskie volleyball program.
 
Schepler also came away with the Academic Award after posting a perfect 4.0 GPA in the spring and fall semesters of 2012 while majoring in accounting.
 
Rounding out the team honors was Meghan Romo, who walked away with the team’s Most Improved Award. The senior from Valparaiso, Ind., paced NIU with 460 kills, while ranking third on the team with 50 total blocks.
 
The team also honored those who earned individual honors during the season in tournament play or after the season from the Mid-American Conference
 
Sarah Angelos
Community Bankers Classic All-Tournament
Missouri State Invite MVP
MAC West Offensive Player of the Week (Sept.11)
First Team All-MAC
Academic All-MAC
 
Alexis Gonzalez
MAC All-Freshman Team
 
Sam Grams
Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention
 
Sue Hayes
Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention
 
Mary Kurisch
Preseason All-MAC
First Team All-MAC
MAC All-Tournament
Academic All-MAC
 
Emily Paschke
Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention
 
MacKenzie Roddy
CEFCU Classic All-Tournament
MAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week (Oct. 4)
Academic All-MAC
Led MAC and ranked 89th in NCAA in aces (0.34/set)
 
Meghan Romo
Missouri State Invite All-Tournament
MAC All-Tournament
Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention
 
Justine Schepler
Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention
 
Amber Walker
Missouri State Invite All-Tournament
MAC West Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 11)
Second Team All-MAC
 
Head Coach Ray Gooden
MAC Coach of the Year
200th career win (Oct. 27 vs. Central Michigan)