Wicinski Watch: 'Wiz' and NIU Volleyball Setting All Kinds of Records

Lauren Wicinski's sophomore volleyball season at Northern Illinois University is picking up where she left off in 2010, when she was MAC Freshman Player of the Year. Affectionately known as "Wiz," she just reached the 1,000-kill mark.

Here are some highlights, courtesy of NIU.

Wiz In The National Spotlight 

Three weeks ago, the nation's kills and points leader Lauren Wicinski was featured in Volleyball Voices, the Chicago Tribune, and Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd." Check the Huskie Happenings (http://www.niuhuskies.com/blog/) blog for links to the features.

Wiz Becomes Fastest In MAC History To 1,000 Kills 

 Lauren Wicinski needed just 54 matches to become the 18th member of NIU's 1,000 Kill Club as she tallied the milestone kill in the second set in a 3-0 win over Western Michigan on Oct. 6. Not only did she become the fastest Huskie to reach 1,000 kills, she also became the fastest in MAC history to achieve the milestone. Fittingly, she had one of the best performances of her young career in the match, totaling 25 kills on 36 swings with only one error for a career-high .667 hitting percentage. With 1,167 career kills, Wicinski ranks 15th all-time at NIU.

Hoffman Assists Third Huskie To 1,000th Kill 

 With her assist on Lauren Wicinski's 1,000th career kill on Oct. 8, Kristin Hoffman set up the 1,000th kill for a Huskie for the third time in her career. The senior has also assisted the milestone kill for classmate Allison McGlaughlin and Meagan Schoenrock (2006-09). The last Huskie to accomplish the feat was 2011 NIU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Shelby Snyder (1991-94), who set the 1,000th kill for five different Huskies.

Wiz Captures MAC West Offensive Player of the Week Hat Trick 

From Sept. 26 to Oct. 10, the name that appeared on the MAC West Offensive Player of the Week award was Lauren Wicinski. After a stellar performance in the MAC opening weekend, Lauren Wicinski grabbed her second MAC weekly award on Sept. 26 as she totaled 48 kills (6.86/set) and hit .287 with four aces in two matches.

She then topped those numbers in NIU's first MAC road weekend, totaling 64 kills (7.11/set) with a .420 hitting percentage, 29 digs and six aces in two matches, including a career-high 39-kill performance against Toledo. For her efforts, she was earned the honor again on Oct. 3. On Oct. 10, she garnered the recognition for the fourth time this season to extend her school career record total to nine selections. All she did was pick up her 1,000th career kill while leading NIU with 38 kills (6.33/set), hitting .414, and racking up six aces in a pair of Huskie wins.

Leaders of the MAC 

As of Nov. 7, the Huskies, who were the Mid-American Conference coaches' preseason pick to win the league, lead the MAC in kills (15.25/set), hitting percentage (.286), assists (14.16/set), and aces (1.51/set). They also rank fourth in digs (15.68/set).

Individually, Lauren Wicinski, the reigning MAC Freshman and Player of the Year, leads the league in points (6.42/set), kills (5.53/set) and aces (0.61/set), and is seventh in hitting percentage (.319). Kristin Hoffman paces the MAC in assists (12.42/set). Sarah Angelos is second in the league in hitting percentage (.356) and Mary Kurisch is eighth (.318). Amber Walker ranks eighth in digs (3.90/set).

Leading the Country 

As of Nov. 7, NIU leads the NCAA in kills and assists and is fifth in hitting percentage. The Huskies also rank 19th in winning percentage (.821), and 42nd in aces.

Individually, Lauren Wicinski leads the nation in points and kills, and is third in aces. Kristin Hoffman also leads the nation in assists, while Sarah Angelos is 41st in hitting percentage.

Editor's note: This is courtesy of NIU and Zach Peters, who is the best sports information guy I've run into in three decades of community journalism.