CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini volleyball team and head coach Chris Tamas have announced the addition of four student-athletes to the 2017 class as setter Kylie Bruder (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and defensive specialists Morgan O'Brien (Libertyville, Ill.), Lexie Smith (Lucas, Texas) and Emmaline Walters (Huntington Beach, Calif.) are all set to join Illinois for the 2017 season.

 "I am pleased to announce these four future Fighting Illini into our program today," said Tamas. "They are all extremely hard workers and they all play for top level club teams around the country. I have enjoyed getting to know them over the last several months and look forward to having them join the rest of the team this fall. I am very excited to add these exceptional student-athletes to our volleyball roster, the University of Illinois and the Champaign-Urbana community."

The foursome pushes the class of 2017 total to nine student-athletes along with fall signees Megan Cooney (Topeka, Kan.), Kylie Kuyava-Deberg (Hudson, Iowa), Emily Hollowell (Little Elm, Texas), Tyanna Omazic (Lenexa, Kan.) and Marijke Van Dyke (Munster, Ind.).

Kylie Bruder // Fort Lauderdale, Fla. // Pine Crest HS // Ocean Breeze Volleyball Club // Setter // 5-11

Notes: Miami Herald First-Team All-County … Two-time Sun Sentinel Second-Team All-County … AVCA All-American Honorable Mention …  2014 Florida Dairy Farmers Player of the Year Runner-Up …  2014 State Runner-up with her Pine Crest High School team … All-time leader in assists for PCHS … Four-year starter and three-year captain for Pine Crest … Three-time Pine Crest Honor Roll Recipient.

Coach Tamas on Bruder:
"As a former setter, Kylie has the one thing that is very difficult to coach, great hands. She has a great attitude both on and off the court and she will complement our team well."

Morgan O'Brien // Libertyville, Ill. // Libertyville HS // Sky High Volleyball Club // Defensive Specialist // 5-8

Notes: PrepVolleyball.com All-American Special Mention and IHSA All-State First-Team as a junior … Named a Max Preps All-American as a sophomore … Two-time North Suburban All-Conference … North Suburban All-Conference Honorable Mention as a freshman … Two-time Daily Herald/Lake County All-Area … Daily Herald/Lake County All-Area Honorable Mention as a freshman … Two-time Pioneer Press All-Area Girls Volleyball Team … Helped her team to the Illinois State Runner-Up in Class 4A as a sophomore … Named the Libertyville High School MVP as a junior … Set the school record for digs as a senior … Earned the Community High School District 128 Distinguished Student Award and High School Hardest Working Award as a sophomore.

Coach Tamas on O'Brien:
"I have watched Morgan play several times this season and the thing that has impressed me the most is her improvement each time that I have seen her – which means she works hard and is very coachable. She plays for one of the top club teams in the country and has been a big part of their success this season at the libero position."

Lexie Smith // Lucas, Texas // Lovejoy HS // Texas Advantage Volleyball Club // Defensive Specialist // 5-7

Notes: Named to the 2016 PrepVolleyball.com All-American list … Named to the 2016 TAVC 5A/6A Preseason All-Texas Team as well as the Lonestar Circle of Champions All-Tournament Team, Allen Open All-Tournament Team and Adidas Texas Invitational All-Tournament Team … Set school record with 718 digs in a season in 2015, averaging 5.2 digs per set … Earned multiple honors in 2015, including Texas Sports Writers Association First-Team All-State, PrepVolleyball.com Defensive Player of the Year Finalist, Dallas Morning News First-Team All-Area, First-Team All-District and Academic All-District … Helped lead her Lovejoy High School to the 2015 State Runner-Up in Class 5A and the 2014 State Championship … Named Second-Team All-District and Academic All-District in 2014 … 2014 Lonestar Volleyball All-Texas Team Player to Watch.

Coach Tamas on Smith:
"Lexie also plays for one of the top club teams in the country. Besides her backcourt skills, she is a great teammate and gives it her all every time she is on the court."

Emmaline Walters // Huntington Beach, Calif. // Huntington Beach HS // A4 Volleyball Club // Defensive Specialist // 5-7

Notes: Named to the JVA Beach Watch List as a junior … AVCA Phenom List honoree … PrepVolleyball.com Soph 79 Honorable Mention, Frosh 59 Honorable Mention and Defensive Dandies … Named the Most Outstanding Libero at Illinois Volleyball Camp … 2014 VHSL All-State 3A and All-Region 3A East First-Team … Two-time Virginia Conference 27 All-Conference … 2015 Huntington Beach High School Scholar-Athlete Award and Oiler Award recipient … 2015 Sunset League All-Academic Team … Led Kettle Run High School (Nokesville, Va.) team to the third place finish in State 3A Division, pacing team with 321 digs and 82 aces and was second wth 231 kills … First freshman to make varsity at KRHS, helping team to a 25-2 record and a Top-10 finish in State 3A playoffs.

Coach Tamas on Walters:
"Emmaline has great speed and quickness on defense which is very important for our level. She is also an extremely hard worker and I look forward to having her on our roster."

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