Genevan Hoists MAC Championship Trophy

Sometimes a picture says it all.

You’ve probably heard about NIU’s amazing comeback against Ohio last Friday night, and many of you probably watched the game. Still, I thought it would be worthwhile passing along this photo taken by NIU photographer extraordinaire Scott Walstrom. It shows Geneva’s Pat Schiller hoisting MAC Conference Championship Trophy after the team’s thrilling win.

You can find another photo of Schiller getting reckless with Gatorade here on the NIU Today site (scan down toward the bottom).   

Schiller, by the way, had five tackles in the game and has anchored the Huskie defense all season.

The Mid-American Conference Champion Huskies will close out a record-setting 2011 season versus Arkansas State, champions of the Sun Belt Conference, on Sunday, Jan. 8, in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Tickets can be purchased for $45 by calling the NIU Athletics Ticket Office in the Convocation Center at (815) 752-6800 during regular business hours. NIU is offering free tickets to NIU students who can attend the game.

Dynamic Tri-Cities Volleyball Duo

NIU volleyball senior setter Kristin Hoffman of Batavia and sophomore outside hitter Lauren Wicinski of Geneva were chosen to the 2011 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division I All-Mideast Region Team, the organization announced Tuesday.

The year 1994 is the last time two teammates from the Mid-American Conference were selected to an AVCA All-Region Team, and the feat has never happened in NIU history before.

As the list’s lone representatives of the MAC and only Mideast Region choices outside of the Big Ten, the duo gives NIU its sixth and seventh all-time AVCA All-Region choices.

For MAC MVP Wicinski, the honor is her second straight as she garnered the accolade last year in her first season on campus. Hoffman receives the award for the first time in her career and is the second Huskie setter to ever be recognized.