De La Salle alum Francesca Bertucci, who completed her sophomore season at Northern Illinois, was named the Mis-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Photo courtesy of Northern Illinois University Athletics
College Notebook: NIU’s Francesca Bertucci named MAC Defensive POY
By Mike Walsh
Correspondent
The 2022 season is likely one that will not be soon forgotten by Northern Illinois women’s volleyball player Francesca Bertucci.
Not only did the sophomore libero/defensive specialist win four Mid-American Conference’s West Division Defensive Player of the Week, she also was lauded as the MAC’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Bertucci, who prepped at De La Salle, anchored the Huskies’ backcourt this season, leading the league and placing second in the country with 5.92 digs per set.
Playing in all 99 sets for NIU, Bertucci logged double-figure digs in every match and recorded 20 or more digs 14 times.
Bertucci’s highest single-match totals in digs came against Western Michigan, a career-best 42 on Sept. 27, to go with 36 against Rhode Island on Sept. 16), and 30 against Central Michigan on Nov. 4 and Western Michigan on Nov. 16.
She was the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week for the periods ending Sept. 12, Sept. 19, Nov. 7 and Nov. 18.
On the season, Bertucci appeared in 99 sets, recording 586 digs, 46 assists, 27 points and 25 serve-receives. She has 1,106 in her first two seasons at Nothern. Bertucci was chosen to the All-MAC Second Team in 2022.
The Huskies were 17-11 overall and 10-8 in the MAC.
In the classroom, Bertucci was one of three Huskies’ women’s volleyball players named to the 2022 College Sport Communicators Academic All-District Team. Bertucci holds a 3.79 grade-point average.
Hamer Time
Wisconsin-Stout wide receiver Levy Hamer was chosen to the All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Conference First Team for the second straight season. He was one of eight Blue Devils and three on offense to be feted.
Hamer, a graduate of St. Laurence, placed second in the WIAC in receiving yards with 818. He tallied 54 catches to go along with eight touchdowns and averaged 15.2 yards per catch.
A senior, Hamer holds the record for the school in Menomonee with 34 career touchdown receptions and is second in career passes caught. Hamer concluded his career with 232 catches for 3,631 yards.
The Blue Devils were 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the WIAC this season.
Happy Huskie
Mount Carmel graduate Michael Kennedy was one of four Northern Illinois football players named to the 2022 All-Mid-American Conference Third Team. This is the first All-MAC accolade of Kennedy’s career.
Kennedy, a defensive end, appeared in 12 games this season for the Huskies (3-9 overall 2-6 MAC).
Kennedy was 13th on the team in tackles with 32. The redshirt senior added 6½ tackles for 35 yards in losses and 5½ sacks. Both were single-season bests for Kennedy. The 5½ sacks tied for the team lead. He also tallied three quarterback hurries.
Picking Perez
Lewis men’s soccer player Cristian Perez, a Morton alum, was named to the All-Great Lakes Valley Conference First Team for the 2022 season. Perez appeared in all 19 matches for the Flyers and placed second in the GLVC in goals (8) and fourth in total points (17). His eight goals and 17 points led Lewis.
Perez, a sophomore midfielder, also was one of three Lewis soccer players selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region Team this season.
The Flyers were 11-5-3 overall and 7-3-2 in the GLVC.
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