Illini Volleyball Media Day was held on an early Sunday morning this year, which was an interesting break in tradition. The team had an early afternoon commitment that day as well, so those of us who showed up had a small window of opportunity to get what was needed and get out so the team could stay on schedule. For a short period, Huff Hall was seemingly transformed into a full scale photography studio. Multiple media outlets were on hand, working alongside DIA. Players moved from station to station with the same type of precision they would display on an offensive attack. While there wasn’t a lot of time to interact with the ladies, one thing was certain. Their level of commitment is off the charts.
The Fighting Illini return to Huff Hall this weekend to play their first two home matches of the 2017 season. Currently sporting a 6-0 record, the ladies will face off Friday night against Stanford University, now lead by former Illini coach Kevin Hambly, and will return to Huff on Saturday afternoon to battle Colorado as part of the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge. Between the 2016 graduating senior players and Coach Hambly’s departure, the team on the court may look quite a bit different this season. However, their intensity will be the same. Meet the 2017 ladies of Fighting Illini Women’s Volleyball.
Seniors (actually, there is only one)
Brandi Donnelly
Position – Defensive Specialist
Height – 5-8
Hometown – Williamsville, Ill.
Juniors
Jordyn Poulter
Position – Setter
Height – 6-2
Hometown – Aurora, Colo.
Ali Bastianelli
Position – Middle Blocker
Height – 6-3
Hometown – Marysville, Mich.
Blayke Hranicka
Position – Middle Blocker
Height – 6-0
Hometown – Denver, Colo.
Sophomores
Annika Gereau
Position – Defensive Specialist
Height – 5-8
Hometown – Oshkosh, Wisc.
Jacqueline Quade
Position – Outside Hitter
Height – 6-2
Hometown – Fort Wayne, Ind.
Beth Prince
Position – Outside Hitter
Height – 6-3
Hometown – Avon, Ind.
Caroline Welsh
Position – Defensive Specialist
Height – 5-8
Hometown – Marietta, Ga.
Freshmen
Kylie Bruder
Position – Setter
Height – 5-11
Hometown – Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Marijke Van Dyke
Position – Outside Hitter
Height – 6-2
Hometown – Munster, Ind.
Tyanna Omazic
Position – Middle Blocker
Height – 6-2
Hometown – Lenexa, Kan.
Emmaline Walters
Position – Defensive Specialist
Height – 5-7
Hometown – Huntington Beach, Calif.
Kylie Kuyava-Deberg
Position – Outside Hitter
Height – 6-4
Hometown – Hudson, Iowa
Emily Hollowell
Position – Outside Hitter/Opposite Side Hitter
Height – 6-3
Hometown – Little Elm, Texas
Megan Cooney
Position – Outside Hitter/Opposite Side Hitter
Height – 6-4
Hometown – Topeka, Kan.
Morgan O’Brien
Position – Defensive Specialist
Height – 5-8
Hometown – Libertyville, Ill.
Lexie Smith
Position – Defensive Specialist
Height – 5-7
Hometown – Lucas, Texas
For more information and player statistics, visit Fighting Illini Volleyball