Touching all the Bases

The third Illini volleyball recruit

Posted by: Jeff Huth

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 10:35 AM

The Illini volleyball team has three scholarships available to Class of 2009 recruits. Two have been filled since 2007.
In what's become a growing trend in the sport toward earlier and earlier commitments, middle blockers Jessica Jendryk of Lisle Benet Academy and Erin Johnson of Crystal Lake South orally committed when they were sophomores. At the time, they were the earliest commitments in Illini volleyball history.
But what about that third scholarship? When coach Don Hardin announces his latest recruiting class on Wednesday, it will include setter Jackie Wolfe of Wheaton Warrenville South. Wolfe and her family have agreed to the UI's offer of a scholarship for her freshman season but with no guarantees beyond that.
It appears to be a win-win situation for both sides. Wolfe strongly considered joining Illinois as a walk-on anyway and will have her school expenses covered for at least one year. And the 2009 Illini will be adding much-needed depth at the setter spot after losing current senior Lizzie Bazzetta to graduation.
Although Illinois will enter next season with an established starting setter in current sophomore Hillary Haen, the backup situation had been more unsettled.
One option might be current freshman Keelin Bourne, who is sitting out this season after undergoing hip surgery. Although Bourne was recruited by Illinois as a projected right-side hitter, she also has extensive experience as a setter and, in fact, was recruited by some other schools for that position. Bourne recently was cleared to return to the practice court and has been training at both positions. But whether Bourne ultimately ever plays setter for Illinois is uncertain.
With Wolfe on board for 2009, however, the Illini have at least one proven backup to Haen. The 5-foot-9 senior had 354 assists this season for a 24-13 Wheaton Warrenville South team. Wolfe also has been utilized as an outside hitter by Tigers coach Bill Schreier, contributing 155 kills and 141 digs out of the back row.
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The incoming recruits will take the scholarship spots of current seniors Bazzetta and right-side hitter Kayani Turner as well as classmate Rachel Henderson. The latter was granted a medical redshirt for her final year. Hardin has declined to disclose the reason for Henderson's redshirt, citing privacy issues.
Henderson's scholarship was temporarily awarded to freshman Catherine Culligan, a defensive specialist/libero, for this year. Culligan will not be on scholarship for the next two seasons, but current plans are to offer her one again when she is a senior.
One thing to keep in mind is that all athletic scholarships are one-year agreements that must be renewed for succeeding years. Typically, of course, most scholarship athletes and their schools operate under the understanding that they have a four-year agreement (five if a medical redshirt is required).
However, some athletes - the Wolfe and Culligan cases are examples - come to prearranged agreements with their schools that the scholarship will not cover the entirety of their college careers.
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Jendryk and her Benet Academy teammates will be playing for a state title this weekend in Normal. The Redwings take a 39-1 record into their Class 4A semifinal match against Chicago Mother McAuley (38-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
The 6-1 Jendryk enters with 250 kills, a team-high 103 blocks, and 54 service aces.
Benet Academy's lone lose was to Joliet Catholic in three sets on Oct. 18.

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