Women's Volleyball | August 28
DeKALB, Ill.—Opening the 2024 season at home, the Northern Illinois University Huskies Volleyball are set to face Western Illinois and Milwaukee in the Huskie Invitational, August 30 to September 1. The Huskies face Western Illinois on August 30 at 6 p.m. before taking on Milwaukee on September 1 at 3 p.m.
The Huskies look to "Cram the Convo" for the home opener before having a post-match autograph session following the Milwaukee game.
Against Western Illinois, the Huskies will meet the Leathernecks for the 33rd time in program history. The Huskies have the advantage in the series, with a 22-9-1 record. In the last 14 meetings, the Huskies have claimed 13 victories.
When the Huskies and the Panthers of Milwaukee meet on September 1, it will be the 27th meeting in program history. NIU holds a 16-9-1 record against Milwaukee with a 6-4 record in the last 10 meetings.
Since the 1980 season, the Huskies have posted a 26-11-4 record at the Huskie Invitational.
Previewing the 2024 Huskies
The Huskies will welcome six new faces to the program for the fall season while returning four members from the 2023 squad who saw action in over 100 sets.
Charli Atiemo (Milford, Mich./Farmington Hills Mercy),
Sophie Hurt (Elmhurst, Ill./IC Catholic Prep),
Nikolette Nedic (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale Central), and
Crew Hoffmeier (Louisville, Ky./Assumption) all saw action in over 100 sets last year for the Huskies with Atiemo saw action in every game for the Huskies and led the team in blocks per set (1.10). Hoffmeier led the team with 4.60 digs per set while Nedic led in kills per set (2.70). Hurt was second for assists per set at 3.99.
Atiemo led the league in blocks per set while
Savanah Brandt (Pearl City, Ill./Pearl City) was also in the top-10 for blocks per set in the league. Hoffmeier was third in the league for digs per set.
The Huskies welcome four true freshman and two transfers for the 2024 season.
Alexa Hayes (Magnolia, Texas/Magnolia West/Tyler Junior College) joins for the fall season while
Kylie Schulze (Wonder Lake, Ill./Woodstock North/Loyola Chicago) joined the Huskies during the spring 2024 season.
Rylea Alvin (Randolph, Wis./Randolph),
Ava Grevengoed (Shorewood, Ill./Joliet West),
Emma McCartney (Chadron, Ohio), and
Ella Strausberger (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) are set to join as true freshman.
Watching Western Illinois
The Leathernecks posted a record of 9-21 and an 8-10 conference record during the 2023 season. In the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll, the Leathernecks are predicted to finish 9th in the league.
Keyana Cruse was named to the preseason All-OVC Team while Maggie Craker was named to the OVC Player to Watch List.
Craker saw action in all 30 matches last season, averaging 8.80 assists per set and 2.51 digs per set. Cruse saw action in 29 matches, with 3.50 kills per set and 3.14 digs per set. Cruse led the team in kills per set last season (403 total).
Milwaukee Preview
The Panthers went 21-12 last season before ending their season in the Horizon League tournament. The Panthers finished in a tie for second following the regular season. In the 2024 preseason poll, they were selected to finish in third place.
Milwaukee opens their play at the Huskie Invitational on August 31 against Western Illinois at 7 p.m. before facing the Huskies on September 1. The Panthers continue a road swing with an additional six road games to start the season after opening at home against No. 5 Stanford on August 30.
Madi Malone led the Panthers at the net with 3.37 kills per set in 2023 and was second in digs per set at 2.51 (319 total). Malone saw action in 127 sets played alongside Josie Johnson. Johnson led the team with 5.28 assists per set, recording a total of 671 assists.
Season and single game tickets are on sale now as the Huskies have 12 home games this season. Tickets can be purchased
here or by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office at 815-753-PACK (7225). Calls received outside of business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm CT) will be returned the next business day.
