By Patrick McHugh

For senior Kira Batura, sports have always meant business. A captain of the women’s volleyball team, Batura has consistently been recognized as one of the team’s strongest players and most intense competitors. Every match has been an opportunity for her to showcase her skills and lead the Huskies forward.

There was a time, though, when Batura could also be seen playing on the court with a different type of net. Not only a force on the volleyball court, Batura has a history of performance on the basketball court.

As a point guard for the Downers Grove South High School girls’ basketball team in Illinois, she once proved herself a formidable presence as a hoops captain as well. The decision to continue in basketball or volleyball, however, was not a tough choice for Batura.

“I enjoyed playing basketball but I knew I could go further in volleyball,” Batura said. “I played on a very prestigious volleyball team in high school [at the Sports Performance volleyball club] and we won two Amateur Athletic Union National Championships. Playing on that team was very time consuming, so I was basically made to choose volleyball to go forward with.”

Batura landed at Northeastern after being drawn to the big city and the co-op program. Originally looking to go to school away from home, Batura said she felt Boston was a fun city and Northeastern had the business program she was looking for. Her only other interest was choosing a school where she could make a name for herself in volleyball.

It is obvious Batura chose wisely. Not long after leaving her volleyball club team following the gold medal they won in the Tampa Bay Qualifiers, she was named Rookie of the Year in the America East Conference as a freshman at NU. The all-time leader at Northeastern for digs both in a game and a career, Batura was voted first team all Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) player in 2007. As a captain last year, Batura led the Huskies to the CAA semifinals, despite being injured the latter part of the season with a torn ligament in her right foot.

As the lone senior on head coach Ken Nichols’ team, Batura said she felt confident in leading the team as a captain. Nichols and his players worked hard to make sure Batura, who was unable to play on Senior Night due to the ankle injury, would get the opportunity to play in the postseason. With wins in their last six regular season games, Northeastern earned itself a bye in the conference tournament. The time off gave Batura a chance to heal before the tournament began and allowed her to play in the semifinals.

Batura is no longer NCAA eligible, but that does not mean she is done with volleyball. Her playing days at Northeastern finished, Batura now looks to a possible career as a professional volleyball player.

“I still hope to play pro volleyball somewhere,” she said. “There are leagues in Germany, Russia, Puerto Rico, France and other places that I would like to play in. Right now I’ve been training and working out for the US National Team tryouts in February. Hopefully I can earn a spot there.”

Should a professional career not work out for Batura, sports could still be a business for her, with a major in business and marketing management for sports, and a co-op at ESPN Radio doing sales and promotions.

It is also possible that Batura may work as an undergraduate assistant coach for the Huskies before she graduates. Since Batura never redshirted, she played the maximum four years in her first four at Northeastern. Similar to her business attitude as a player, Batura will look to make her business in sports in the future.

When Batura leaves, Northeastern will be losing one of its greatest players, Nichols said. Batura’s time as a Husky will be remembered for the impact she made on the program’s success and how it guided her in the future.

“I enjoyed my career here and I feel it has been a good stepping stone for the future,” Batura said. “I learned to grow as a player and I have found people I can count on. Volleyball has always been very important to me and Northeastern helped me to become a better player and a better person.”