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O'FALLON – Katie Roustio didn't begin playing club volleyball until the eighth grade. She has one season of high school competition under her belt, too.

But that didn't stop Illinois from offering a scholarship to the power-hitting O'Fallon freshman, who orally committed to Kevin Hambly's nationally ranked program late last week.

"When he offered, I knew there was no other place I'd rather go," Roustio said Monday. "I loved everything about it."

The 6-foot-1 outside hitter informed Hambly of her decision Friday after making an unofficial visit to the UI March 4-5. Roustio's favorable impression of Illini volleyball goes farther back – to her involvement in the program's summer camps each of the past two years.

"There was really good chemistry between everyone," Roustio said. "Later, on my campus visit, I heard about the new top recruits coming in and I knew it was going to be a top future program."

The Panthers freshman – a 2009 News-Gazette All-State special-mention pick – is the sixth non-senior to commit to the Illini and the first Class of 2013 commitment.

In her first varsity season, Roustio finished among the top 15 in kills in the St. Louis metro area with 301, averaging 3.62 per set. The All-Southwest Conference first-teamer ranked second on the Panthers in that category to senior and St. Louis University signee Emma Goldschmidt. She also was O'Fallon's No. 2 blocker.

Panthers coach Erin Legendre said Roustio and Goldschmidt made for a potent one-two punch on the left side.

"She is really, really powerful for a freshman," Legendre said. "Very strong physically already and getting stronger as we go."

And with a quick aptitude for the sport, too. Although Roustio began playing volleyball in the fifth grade, it was at a private school with small enrollment and modest competition. She currently is in just her second year of club ball, as a member of the Belleville-based Southwest Illinois Volleyball Club. The same club produced Illini sophomore Michelle Bartsch, a 2009 honorable mention All-American.

"Katie has done an amazing job of transitioning from a small junior high to a high school in a pretty competitive conference," Legendre said. "She learns really quick and is one of those kids, she can watch (a skill) once and run with it."

Just as she quickly ran with Hambly's offer after making only one other campus visit – to St. Louis University.

"When I went for my (UI) visit, I was 'OK, I'm just looking around,' " she said. "So I was pretty surprised, actually, that everything clicked so quickly."