“She informed us of her intention of her request for a release,” Gooden said of the sophomore outside hitter who earned All-America honors last fall in leading the Huskies to the MAC regular season championship.

“We wish her the best in what she tries to do. Now it’s up to the administration.”

A spokesman for the school said the process could take a week.

The Geneva High School graduate and daughter of two former NIU athletes told the Northern Star, the campus student-run newspaper, she wants to transfer to play “at a bigger school.”

Attempts by The Beacon-News to reach Wicinski or her parents Monday were unsuccessful. Her dad, Rob, who is the varsity football coach at Geneva, played football at NIU. Her mother, Gina (Graf), played volleyball at the school and ranks seventh on its career kills list.

Wicinski was the first league player to earn Freshman and MAC Player of the Year honors. This past season she led the nation with 5.34 kills-per-set.

Three freshmen players who were not much of a factor on the court last season are also seeking their release: defensive specialists Haley Norris (Rosary) and Cheyenne Dawson (Shreve, Ohio) and setter Jessica Lubic (Kaneland). Norris and Dawson played in just 10 and 8 sets, respectively, while Lubic redshirted.

“As far as I know, none of us are trying to go to the same places and we’re all leaving for our own different reasons,” Wicinski told the school paper.

Gooden would not comment on the reasons Wicinski or the other players made their requests.

“It’s hard for the (team) right now,” he said. “It’s tough when anybody leaves us. It’s sad when seniors leave us. They’ll fight through it pretty hard and do the best we can.”