Honors roll in for Wicinski, other area collegians
Touring Northern Illinois University’s Convocation Center during her official visit, Lauren Wicinski came across a big photo on a wall of her mother, the former Gina Graf, an action volleyball shot.
The Northern folks then showed Lauren some Huskies volleyball videos. They also included her mom.
That can only aid the recruiting process.
“I thought it was so cool,” said Lauren, who at the time also was considering programs at Marquette, Arizona, Loyola-Marymount, DePaul and others.
Now she gets to see mom there on the wall all the time as she walks the Convocation corridors. Soon she’ll be passing Gina in other ways, as Lauren climbs NIU’s lists of statistical leaders.
The 6-foot-1 sophomore outside hitter on Nov. 17 was named Mid-American Conference player of the year, the first to earn the honor in her first two seasons. Last season Wicinski became the first woman in MAC history to earn player of the year and freshman of the year.
“I think that’s really an awesome accomplishment, and I think it helps that we did really well as a team (27-6), so it helped me get to where I was,” she said. “It was kind of hard to wrap my mind around it almost because it’s like, wow, did I really get that thing again? I just think it’s awesome.”
Earlier this season Wicinski surpassed the 1,000-kills mark, fastest in league history. Through games of Nov. 20 she ranked first in Division I kills per set (5.36) and points per set (6.22) and third in aces per set (. 59).
In Wicinski household hierarchy, Gina holds a tenuous lead in career marks. She ranks seventh all time in NIU kills with 1,328, Lauren lurking with 1,263. The Huskies’ all-time service aces leader with 165 from 1983-86, Gina’s record will also undoubtedly be broken by her daughter, who already has 140.
“Gina was a little bit quicker to the net and had a quicker whip, but I think Lauren is just so much more powerful, and both of them are very, very good at getting it done,” said Rob Wicinski — husband, dad, and Geneva football coach.
As a Northern Illinois football player on campus at the same time as Gina, he noticed her, met her at a party — his line about their meeting at the library was unconvincing — and pestered her until she went out with him. The rest is history, which includes not only Lauren but also two other volleyball kids, Geneva junior Jessica and freshman Kelsey.
“Both of them are very good defensively,” Rob said of Gina and Lauren. “They both are six-people rotation type of gals and obviously both can serve a little bit. It’ll be interesting if — not when — she breaks the aces record.”
Gina cites many differences in the game from her era, from improved facilities and weight training to rally scoring. It goes without saying, though, she’s pleased as punch with her daughter’s success. She’s coached each of her children with the Kane County Jrs Volleyball Club, but no longer has to give Lauren many pointers.
“I’m just so proud of her,” Gina said. “It’s fun to watch her play. When she was younger I was always critical and now I just get to see her play. She’s a smart player and makes great shots. It’s just fun to see her put it all together. I don’t have much to say anymore. I’m just a happy fan.”
She’ll get at least one more chance to cheer. Northern ends its regular season schedule against Marquette, Saturday in DeKalb. The Huskies lost the MAC Tournament championship to Central Michigan, but Lauren Wicinski hopes the NCAA will still select NIU for the Division I Tournament that starts Dec. 1.
As far as future MAC awards, it’s nice but not her driving force.
“If it happens it happens, but that’s not my goal,” Lauren said. “My goal this year was to win the MAC, do well as a team and do better than last year, and I think we did.
“I’m more about, I want to get the rings, I want to get the trophy. I want to do really well as a team and make that memorable.”
Teammates
We would be remiss not to mention Kristin Hoffman, Wicinski’s NIU teammate out of Batavia’s Class of 2008.
The 5-foot-8 senior setter was named the MAC setter of the year, the first Huskie to win the award. She earned her second straight First Team all-Mac honor. Last season Hoffman became NIU’s first Academic all-American, and earned the program’s community service award. This year she was among the top 30 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award honoring “community, classroom, character and competition.”
Entering the Marquette match, Hoffman had compiled 1,441 assists this season, which led all of Division I. Her 4,311 assists rank second all-time at Northern.
Record setter
University of Wisconsin-Parkside senior setter Ali Sikic (Rosary) earned this season’s Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Judy Kruckman Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Award.
The 5-6 double-major (physical education and business administration) was named to the WIAC first team for a second straight year while setting Parkside’s career assists record with 5,487. Helping lead the Pioneers to a 21-16 record, Sikic finished her season ranked 11th in Division III in assists per set, at 10.80.
Due reward
Rose-Hulman sophomore football player Dean Griffing (Aurora Christian) was dominating in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. He’d secured a starting defensive end spot and through six games was leading the league in tackles for loss and third in sacks and was in the top four in tackles by a defensive linemen.
Then early in Week 6 against Mount St. Joseph the 6-2, 210-pounder tore his MCL and was lost for the remainder of the season. He finished with 26 tackles, 9 for loss with 2 sacks, a forced fumble and a team-high 3 quarterback hits and, for all those numbers, Griffing was rewarded with a HCAC honorable-mention all-conference honor on Nov. 9.
The buck stopped there
Jamie Forbes (St. Charles North), a junior at Wisconsin-Milwaukee, was named the Horizon League goalkeeper of the year and co-defensive player of the year. Helping the Panthers to a program-record 19 wins and its first NCAA Tournament victory, she allowed just 2 goals in league play for a goals-against average of just 0.29. Overall she was 18-3 with a .66 goals-against and 11 shutouts.
doberhelman@dailyherald.com