Northwestern University Athletics
Davis Adds Trio Of Graduate Transfers To 2023 Roster
4/17/2023 10:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Maddy Chinn, Ellie Husemann, Julia Sangiacomo set to join ‘Cats in the fall
EVANSTON, Ill. (April 17, 2023) – Northwestern University head volleyball coach Shane Davis announced the addition of three graduate transfers to his roster for the 2023 season on Monday. Maddy Chinn (Oakland Township, Mich./Notre Dame Prep/Purdue), Ellie Husemann (Eagan, Minn./Eagan/Minnesota), and Julia Sangiacomo (Sonoma, Calif./Justin-Sienna/Santa Clara) will join the 'Cats in the fall and will each have one season of eligibility remaining.
"It's a big day for Northwestern Volleyball," Davis commented. "We couldn't be more excited about adding Maddy, Ellie, and Julia. They will bring talent, athleticism, and depth to our already talented group. My staff did an incredible job of finding the perfect fit for what we needed and we are thrilled to welcome all three to the Wildcat family."
Maddy Chinn, 6-3, Outside Hitter, Oakland Township, Mich. (Notre Dame Prep/Purdue)
A 6-foot-3 outside hitter, Chinn appeared in 81 matches during a four-year stint at Purdue University. After averaging 1.75 kills per set during a sophomore campaign that saw her post a pair of 10-kill efforts, Chinn saw action in 28 matches in 2022, racking up a career-high 133 kills (1.56 k/s) as the Boilermakers finished 21-11 (11-9 B1G) en route to advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. She reached double figures in kills on four separate occasions, highlighted by a career-best 13-kill showing in a 3-1 win over Michigan State on November 4.
Out of Oakland Township, Mich., Chinn enjoyed a decorated career at Notre Dame Preparatory that included an Under Armour All-American nod from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). As a senior, she totaled 628 kills (4.7 k/s), hitting a blistering .463, in addition to notching 134 blocks (1.0 b/s) and 493 digs (3.7 d/s) en route to being tabbed Michigan's Miss Volleyball and the Detroit Free Press' High School Volleyball Player of the Year. Chinn was a three-time PrepVolleyball Player of the Year finalist and was ranked among the top 150 seniors by the organization in 2018.
Davis on Chinn: "Maddy has strong values and an infectious personality that will contribute to our team culture both on and off the court. She brings versatility, being able to attack from the left and right sides, and, most importantly, is an incredible human being who will make an immediate impact in our gym."
Chinn on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because of the many things it has to offer such as incredible academics, a competitive volleyball program, and genuine people. The players and coaches played a huge part in making me feel immediately welcomed into their family!"
Ellie Husemann, 6-3, Middle Blocker, Eagan, Minn. (Eagan HS/Minnesota)
Husemann arrives in Evanston from the University of Minnesota, where she saw action in 50 matches during her time with the Golden Gophers. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker has 167 blocks (1.1 b/s) to her name, highlighted by a career-best 93 rejections (1.27 b/s) during a junior season in which she also posted her career high in kills (53; 0.73 k/s). Husemann totaled a career-high nine kills on two separate occasions as a junior, one of which came in a 3-0 blanking of Maryland on September 26, 2021, and put up a match-high eight blocks in the Golden Gophers' showdown with Baylor in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
A four-time all-conference honoree at Eagan High School, Husemann closed her career as the program's all-time career blocks leader (379). The Eagan, Minn. product was named an Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American and earned First Team All-Metro accolades from the Minneapolis Star Tribune in 2018. Husemann is no stranger to team success, as she helped lead the Wildcats to state championships as both a junior and a senior, earning all-tournament team nods both years.
Davis on Husemann: "Ellie brings a great deal of experience from her time at Minnesota. She has a high volleyball IQ, is a great read blocker, and gives us another attacking option. Throughout her career, Ellie has been a steadying force and I look forward into watching her develop into a leader for us."
Husemann on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because of the opportunity to be part of a program that values the development of student-athletes both on and off the court. Being able to play for an amazing staff alongside hardworking women with a strong team culture and ambitious goals is exactly what I was looking for. Northwestern checked all those boxes. I'm so excited to be a Wildcat!"
Julia Sangiacomo, 6-5, Outside Hitter, Sonoma, Calif. (Justin-Sienna HS/Santa Clara)
Arriving in Evanston by way of Santa Clara University, Julia Sangiacomo enjoyed a decorated career with the Broncos. A four-time All-West Coast Conference (WCC) pick, Sangiacomo, a 6-foot-5 outside hitter, has taken home First Team All-WCC honors in each of the last three seasons and is coming off a senior campaign in which she ripped a career-high 475 kills (4.20 k/s), the seventh most in a single season in Bronco annals. She is also a three-time Pacific North All-Region selection by a the AVCA.
Sangiacomo, a native of Sonoma, Calif. who attended Justin-Sienna High School, rewrote the program record books during her stay at Santa Clara. She posted a staggering eight 20-kill performances en route to closing her career ranked third-all time with 1,528 spikes. Sangiacomo finished the 2022 campaign ranked in the top 40 nationally in points per set (27th; 4.84), points (27th; 547.0), and kills (33rd; 475).
Davis on Sangiacomo: "Julia gives us an experienced and established threat on the outside after ranking second in the West Coast Conference in kills last season. Like Maddy, she has the ability to attack on both the left and right sides. Julia's size and athleticism will make her a force at the net in the Big Ten."
Sangiacomo on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because I want to compete at the highest level possible, receive an unbelievable education, and be surrounded by amazing people. I immediately felt so welcomed when I stepped on campus and could tell it would be the perfect fit."
Northwestern finished the 2022 campaign at 18-14 overall (7-13 B1G), the program's top win total since 2010. The 'Cats notched a trio of wins over ranked opposition, including a five-set triumph on the road over No. 7 Minnesota.
"It's a big day for Northwestern Volleyball," Davis commented. "We couldn't be more excited about adding Maddy, Ellie, and Julia. They will bring talent, athleticism, and depth to our already talented group. My staff did an incredible job of finding the perfect fit for what we needed and we are thrilled to welcome all three to the Wildcat family."
Maddy Chinn, 6-3, Outside Hitter, Oakland Township, Mich. (Notre Dame Prep/Purdue)
A 6-foot-3 outside hitter, Chinn appeared in 81 matches during a four-year stint at Purdue University. After averaging 1.75 kills per set during a sophomore campaign that saw her post a pair of 10-kill efforts, Chinn saw action in 28 matches in 2022, racking up a career-high 133 kills (1.56 k/s) as the Boilermakers finished 21-11 (11-9 B1G) en route to advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. She reached double figures in kills on four separate occasions, highlighted by a career-best 13-kill showing in a 3-1 win over Michigan State on November 4.
Out of Oakland Township, Mich., Chinn enjoyed a decorated career at Notre Dame Preparatory that included an Under Armour All-American nod from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). As a senior, she totaled 628 kills (4.7 k/s), hitting a blistering .463, in addition to notching 134 blocks (1.0 b/s) and 493 digs (3.7 d/s) en route to being tabbed Michigan's Miss Volleyball and the Detroit Free Press' High School Volleyball Player of the Year. Chinn was a three-time PrepVolleyball Player of the Year finalist and was ranked among the top 150 seniors by the organization in 2018.
Davis on Chinn: "Maddy has strong values and an infectious personality that will contribute to our team culture both on and off the court. She brings versatility, being able to attack from the left and right sides, and, most importantly, is an incredible human being who will make an immediate impact in our gym."
Chinn on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because of the many things it has to offer such as incredible academics, a competitive volleyball program, and genuine people. The players and coaches played a huge part in making me feel immediately welcomed into their family!"
Ellie Husemann, 6-3, Middle Blocker, Eagan, Minn. (Eagan HS/Minnesota)
Husemann arrives in Evanston from the University of Minnesota, where she saw action in 50 matches during her time with the Golden Gophers. The 6-foot-3 middle blocker has 167 blocks (1.1 b/s) to her name, highlighted by a career-best 93 rejections (1.27 b/s) during a junior season in which she also posted her career high in kills (53; 0.73 k/s). Husemann totaled a career-high nine kills on two separate occasions as a junior, one of which came in a 3-0 blanking of Maryland on September 26, 2021, and put up a match-high eight blocks in the Golden Gophers' showdown with Baylor in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
A four-time all-conference honoree at Eagan High School, Husemann closed her career as the program's all-time career blocks leader (379). The Eagan, Minn. product was named an Under Armour Honorable Mention All-American and earned First Team All-Metro accolades from the Minneapolis Star Tribune in 2018. Husemann is no stranger to team success, as she helped lead the Wildcats to state championships as both a junior and a senior, earning all-tournament team nods both years.
Davis on Husemann: "Ellie brings a great deal of experience from her time at Minnesota. She has a high volleyball IQ, is a great read blocker, and gives us another attacking option. Throughout her career, Ellie has been a steadying force and I look forward into watching her develop into a leader for us."
Husemann on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because of the opportunity to be part of a program that values the development of student-athletes both on and off the court. Being able to play for an amazing staff alongside hardworking women with a strong team culture and ambitious goals is exactly what I was looking for. Northwestern checked all those boxes. I'm so excited to be a Wildcat!"
Julia Sangiacomo, 6-5, Outside Hitter, Sonoma, Calif. (Justin-Sienna HS/Santa Clara)
Arriving in Evanston by way of Santa Clara University, Julia Sangiacomo enjoyed a decorated career with the Broncos. A four-time All-West Coast Conference (WCC) pick, Sangiacomo, a 6-foot-5 outside hitter, has taken home First Team All-WCC honors in each of the last three seasons and is coming off a senior campaign in which she ripped a career-high 475 kills (4.20 k/s), the seventh most in a single season in Bronco annals. She is also a three-time Pacific North All-Region selection by a the AVCA.
Sangiacomo, a native of Sonoma, Calif. who attended Justin-Sienna High School, rewrote the program record books during her stay at Santa Clara. She posted a staggering eight 20-kill performances en route to closing her career ranked third-all time with 1,528 spikes. Sangiacomo finished the 2022 campaign ranked in the top 40 nationally in points per set (27th; 4.84), points (27th; 547.0), and kills (33rd; 475).
Davis on Sangiacomo: "Julia gives us an experienced and established threat on the outside after ranking second in the West Coast Conference in kills last season. Like Maddy, she has the ability to attack on both the left and right sides. Julia's size and athleticism will make her a force at the net in the Big Ten."
Sangiacomo on Northwestern: "I chose Northwestern because I want to compete at the highest level possible, receive an unbelievable education, and be surrounded by amazing people. I immediately felt so welcomed when I stepped on campus and could tell it would be the perfect fit."
Northwestern finished the 2022 campaign at 18-14 overall (7-13 B1G), the program's top win total since 2010. The 'Cats notched a trio of wins over ranked opposition, including a five-set triumph on the road over No. 7 Minnesota.
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