CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The 2017 Illinois volleyball recruiting class has been ranked as the seventh-best class in the country as rated by PrepVolleyball.com's John Tawa.

The nine-member class includes setter Kylie Bruder (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), outside hitters Megan Cooney (Topeka, Kan.), Emily Hollowell (Little Elm, Texas), Kylie Kuyava-Deberg (Hudson, Iowa) and Marijke Van Dyke (Munster, Ind.), middle blocker Tyanna Omazic (Lenexa, Kan.) and defensive specialists Morgan O'Brien (Libertyville, Ill.), Lexie Smith (Lucas, Texas) and Emmaline Walters (Huntington Beach, Calif.).

PrepVolleyball.com's comments on the Fighting Illini's 2017 recruiting class:
"We have a large and talented group in 2017," said new Illinois head coach Chris Tamas. "They bring in a mix of skill sets that are exciting for any coach to work with." Omazic, one of four recruits among PrepVolleyball.com's Top 100 Senior Aces, led her high school team to a state title last fall and helped PVA earn an 18 Open bid this spring. No. 51 in the Senior Aces, Tamas says Omazic is "as good off of one foot as anyone I've seen for her age." She should start immediately opposite junior Ali Bastianelli. Tamas says that the Fighting Illini's four pin hitters, three of whom were Top 100 Senior Aces, have a wealth of all-around and specialized skills. Kuyava-Deberg, Cooney and Hollowell have carried big loads for their high school and club teams, playing all six rotations and being focal points of their teams' offense. Kuyava-Deberg, Senior Ace No. 15, is very long, has a scorer's mentality and the tools to terminate at will. Cooney, Senior Ace No. 35, is very physical and her blocking prowess makes her a natural on the right side. Van Dyke, No. 66 in the Senior Aces, has been hampered by injuries over her prep career but when healthy is an elite athlete with the ability to score and strong blocking skills. Hollowell, a Top 250 Senior Ace, is long and can contribute on either pin as well as in the middle. Bruder, a Top 250 Senior Ace, has spent a season playing for former Olympian Heather Bown, and has the one skill that is difficult to teach setters: great hands. She has a good feel for the game and consistently puts up hittable sets. Three great back row specialists complete the class. O'Brien, Smith and Walters bring speed, the ability to keep the ball off the floor and terrific passing prowess. "Overall, I am very excited about the skill and the depth of this class," said Tamas. "They will have an immediate impact on the team."

Season tickets for the 2017 season are now on sale to the general public. Season ticket packages include a ticket to all 12 home matches and start as low as $40. Fans can also purchase the Volleyball/Women's Basketball Season Ticket Combo Package for just $55. This package includes a general admission ticket to all Volleyball and Women's Basketball home games. The 2017 Volleyball Season Ticket Holder renewal period is currently underway. The renewal deadline for current season ticket holders is Friday, June 16th. Single match tickets will go on sale on August 10. For more information and to purchase season tickets click HERE.   

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