THIS WEEKEND: The RedHawks continue conference play against Northern Illinois this Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. (ET) and Saturday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m. (ET). Each match will take place at Victor E. Court and can be streamed on NIU All-Access.
MATCHUP HISTORY: Miami and Northern Illinois first clashed in 1981. This Friday will mark the 49th meeting between the RedHawks and Huskies. Miami holds a 9-10 home record, 8-15 away record and 6-1 neutral record when facing Northern Illinois. The last time the Red and White defeated Northern Illinois was on Feb. 26, 2021 in a 3-0 match.
ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS: Northern Illinois holds a 3-11 record, after most recently going 1-1 in a pair of matches against Bowling Green. They are led by head coach Sondra Parys who is in her first year at the head of the program. Coach Parys previously spent time as an assistant coach with Loyola University Chicago from 2018-2022. The Huskies finished 17-11 (10-8 MAC) in 2022. Nikolette Nedic currently leads the Huskies attack with 2.86 kills per set (163 total kills) and Ella Mihacevich is leading all Huskies with 6.54 assists per set (373 total assists). Defensively, Crew Hoffmeier has averaged a team-high 4.93 digs per set (281 total digs) and Charli Atiemo has recorded the most blocks with 0.88 per set (50 blocks total).
TELEVISION: Each match will be available to watch on NIU All-Access.
UP NEXT: The RedHawks continue conference play by returning home to host Toledo Oct. 5 and Ball State Oct. 6.
MAC LEADERS: Four RedHawks rank among MAC statistical leaders. Senior Maggie McCrary currently sits at third in hitting percentage (.364). She has recorded 64 total kills in 43 sets played. In addition, sophomore Gentry Warrick ranks 10th in hitting percentage (.285). Warrick has also flashed on the defensive end for the RedHawks, as she ranks seventh in blocks per set (0.96). Sophomore Ellie Hanson ranks ninth in kills per set (3.10). She also finds herself at ninth in service aces per set (0.39). Sophomore Hayden Hicks has been a key facilitator for Miami, as she ranks ninth in assists per set (6.86).
YOUTH MOVEMENT: This season sophomore Ellie Hanson has led the offensive charge, recording 175 total points and leads the team with 152 kills total. She also ranks first on the team in digs with 149 total through 49 sets played. In the first three weeks of play, Hanson made the all-tournament team in the Tiger Brawl, Miami Invitational and Redbird Classic. Sophomore Hayden Hicks notched a career-high 54 assists against Cleveland State in the Miami Invitational and was named to the all-tournament in the Tiger Brawl. Freshman Chelsea Williams is second on the team with 133 kills (2.89 per set) and was named to the all-tournament team in the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational.
GREAT RETURNS: Of its 15-player roster, Miami returns 12 RedHawks from the 2022 roster. Seniors Maggie McCrary and Taylor Nomanson lead a solid veteran group. They are joined by juniors Caroline Cermack, Brooke Cirigliano, Margo Lawson and Gracie Norris. The sophomore class is comprised of Ellie Hanson, Hayden Hicks, Emily Morgan and Gentry Warrick. Also returning is redshirt-sophomore Brooke Jackson and redshirt-freshman Amyah Cooper.
FRESH FACES: Miami boasts three newcomers on its 2023 roster, who will look to make their impact this season. The talented group of newcomers are Raegan Lantz, Breannah Peterson and Chelsea Williams.
THE BROOKE JACKSON STORY: Brooke Jackson has always been competitive. It's easy for fans to see that in a Miami Volleyball match. It's simple for Jackson's teammates and coaches to observe that in a RedHawks practice at Millett Hall. But it's hardly a new development. Check out the new Front Row Feature here!
FOUR DECADES OF SUCCESS: Coach Carolyn Condit has won 681 games (and counting) over her 40 years at the helm of Miami Volleyball. A Front Row Feature on MiamiRedHawks.com profiles Coach Condit, some of her favorite memories from her career, and what has gone into her successful run as coach of the Red and White. Check out the story here!
ECLIPSING 750 CAREER WINS: With a 3-0 win versus Buffalo on Jan. 22, 2021, Miami head coach Carolyn Condit posted her 750th career win. Condit owns a 780-614 career record in her 44th season as a head coach. Owning more victories than any coach in any sport in the history of Miami's storied athletic department, known as the Cradle of Coaches, Condit holds a 681-536 record and is in her 40th season in charge of the Red and White. Condit is the only volleyball coach in the history of the Mid-American Conference to win more than 300 league matches, holding a conference mark of 375-247.
MIAMI BY THE NUMBERS
900 All-Time Wins
681 Head Coach Carolyn Condit Miami Wins Most by any Miami Coach in any sport
400 All-Time MAC Wins
14 NCAA/NIVC Postseason Appearances
12 Regular-Season MAC Titles
12 RedHawk Returners
12 Consecutive AVCA Academic Awards
7 MAC Tournament Titles
3 RedHawk Newcomers
4 Head Coaches All-Time
