Softball | November 18

DeKALB, Ill.—Five athletes will join the Northern Illinois University Huskies softball program for the 2026 season, as announced by head coach Kathryn Gleason.

The incoming class features three Huskies from the state of Illinois and one Huskie from the states of Indiana and Missouri.

"We are excited to welcome the NIU Softball Class of 2025," said Gleason. "They are a talented group that look to come in and contribute at the plate, on the mound and on the field. These individuals have played at high levels in travel ball and with their high school teams. They bring a competitiveness and work ethic to learn, grow, compete and succeed in all areas of the game.  It is a class built on power, speed and versatility."

Ava Falcone will join the Huskies after completing her high school career at James B. Contant High School. Falcone, who comes from Elk Grove Village, Illinois, boasts three consecutive seasons of a .417 batting average or better. Falcone has recorded 95 hits, 48 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases. With the Cougars, Falcone is a three-time MSL All-Conference honoree and a three-time All-Area honoree from the Daily Hearld. Falcone earned Second Team All-State honors from the Illinois Coaches Association in 2024 while scoring 83 runs for Contant.  

Aubriella Garza comes to NIU softball after competing at Oswego High School. Garza, who calls Montgomery, Illinois home, was a member of the team that took third at the Illinois State Tournament her junior season after claiming the regional, sectional, and super sectional crowns. Garza has maintained an average of .376 or better at the plate while tallying 143 hits, 109 doubles, and 24 home runs. Seeing action in the pitchers' circle, Garza has pitched 324.1 innings and 203 strikeouts. Garza holds six school records at Oswego High School, single season doubles, single season hits, career hits, career doubles, career home runs, and career RBIs.

Elliette "Elle" Glass will join the Huskies from St. Charles, Missouri and played her high school career at Francis Howell. Glass was a member of three teams that finished as District Champions before helping the Vikings to the state title in the 2023-24 season. Glass has seen action in 242 innings, recorded 289 strikeouts, and holds an ERA of 2.66. Earning First Team All-District and All-Conference honors, Glass has started in every high school game.

Izabella "Izzi" Hanna is slated to join the Huskies from Granger, Indiana and played her prep ball at Penn High School. Hanna holds the Penn High School records for hits in a season and runs scored. Hanna has an overall batting average of .327 in three seasons, 121 runs, 149 hits, and 76 stolen bases. A member of the state champion team in 2022-23, Hanna was the Penn HS Offensive Player of the Year in her junior season and two-time NIC First Team member.  

Jaime Saran comes to NIU softball after competing at Naperville Central High School. Saran, who calls Naperville, Illinois home, was a member of a team that were the conference runners-up her junior season. Saran had batting averages of .373 and .424, with 22 doubles, 20 home runs, and 77 RBIs in two seasons. Saran holds the Naperville Central records for most home runs in a season (12) and most RBIs (61) while also holding the 2024 IHSA Class 4A State Record for two home runs in the same inning. Saran is a three-time member of the Naperville Sun All-Area team, a two-year member of the DuPage Valley Conference All-Conference team, and a two-year ICA 4A All-State team member.

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--NIU--