Early Season Central lllinois Standouts
Being halfway through September, teams are starting to assert themselves as the ones to chase, as well as ones who might turn heads and be the ones to surprise a few teams. The Chicago area is always strong, but don’t…
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Continue ReadingBeing halfway through September, teams are starting to assert themselves as the ones to chase, as well as ones who might turn heads and be the ones to surprise a few teams. The Chicago area is always strong, but don’t sleep on the athletes out of Central and Southern Illinois. With strong offseason clubs for athletes to train under, there is added depth across the state. These athletes listed below are a few of MANY who are having a strong start to the season and will be looking to continue their momentum throughout the season.
*Stats obtained from Max Preps on 9/13/2021
Champaign Central
Champaign Central is off to a strong start with a trio of athletes who have at least 50 kills so far this season. Sydnie Williams 63 kills and 71 digs, she was actually a top performer at the Prep Dig Gauntlet where she showed her athleticism and all around play for Illini Elite 17 White. Central also has Meg Rossow and Brianna Beckler. Rossow has 50 kills and 16 blocks on the season and is hitting a solid .379, where Brianna Beckler is just over 50 kills and nearly 70 digs. They are off to a 10-5 start and will have a big match up against normal West on 9/21.
Lily Barry Lily Barry DS/L Hartsburg-Emden | 2022 IL – Normal University High
Barry is coming off a summer where she put a stamp on her recruiting decision by staying close to home and playing for the Ilini. Her future will be a libero/DS at the Big Ten level, but right now she can score points with the best in the state. An extremely explosive athlete, Barry can really see the whole court and knows what shots to execute at the right situation. She is averaging nearly five kills per set and four digs a set with her team of to a 12-3 star.
Caroline Kerr Caroline Kerr 5'11" | S St. Thomas More | 2022 State #75 Nation IL and Anna McClure Anna McClure 5'8" | DS/L St. Thomas More | 2022 State #182 Nation IL – St. Thomas More
Kerr and McClure are once again leading the strong St. Thomas More program with a 9-0 record. Kerr is a do it all setter who is committed to Tennessee, a major floor general for her squad with plenty of high-level experience. McClure is an Ohio State commit, where she is just electric all around. She is another one who will be a libero/DS type of athlete at the Big 10 level, but the lefty will score plenty of points this high school season. She is absolute nails when it comes to passing and serve receiving and is such a weapon in every rotation to score points in the front and backrow.
So fun watching Caroline Kerr Caroline Kerr 5'11" | S St. Thomas More | 2022 State #75 Nation IL run the show for @IEVBC – super talented but so many intangibles you need with a setter. She will head to @Vol_VBall pic.twitter.com/cC7KE2bUQr
— Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) January 30, 2021
Tori Taylor – Rochester
Taylor has gotten Rochester off to a strong start where she has over 80 kills so far this season and hitting a blistering .400 efficiency. With a 13-1 start (only loss to Belleville West), Taylor is able to use a blend of power and finesse to score plenty of points. Two other attackers to keep an eye on for the Rockets would be Emma Dixon and Ellie Gegen who are averaging at least two kills per set. Gegen is only a sophomore. Junior libero Kaylen Reed is averaging a blistering six digs per set.
Chloe Byrd – Springfield
Byrd is another one of those athletes where you can describe as “electric”. It is exciting everytime the ball is set her way. With a big armswing and high contact point, Byrd is a pure point scorer. She is hitting .324 with over 100 kills so far this season for Springfield. Another attacker on the rise for Springfield would be sophomore Ruth Becker who has nearly 80 kills and just over 80 digs for the Senators.
Kayla Pacha – Metamora
Big arm, big point scorer. Pacha has asserted herself as one to watch throughout the area as an outside hitter, but she’s the type where the other side of the net needs to konw where she is attacking. She is not only scoring from the pin, but will attack out of the middle on a high two ball where she can cut both corners. Another sophomore to watch would be Esma Frieden who is really athletic, physical and strong along the front line.
Kenna Wollard Kenna Wollard 6'1" | OH Illinois Valley Central | 2023 State #64 Nation IL – Illinois Valley Central
Wollard was another Illini Elite athlete who made headlines this summer when she committed to Purdue, showing the volleyball world that Central Illinois is a place to recruit Big Ten type talent with other 2022 and 2023 athletes going B1G. Wollard has a high contact point and is so dynamic on the pin where she can score at will and is a threat from the backrow as well.