Nov. 8, 2000

CHAMPAIGN, IL - Head Coach Don Hardin has announced his volleyball recruiting class for the Class of 2004. Three talented players signed national letters of intent this morning to play for the Fighting Illini in Jessica Belter of St. Peters, Mo. and Lauren Harks and Erin Virtue, both of St. Charles, Ill. In addition, the program is expected to add a walk-on in the fall.

"We felt it was important to sign players with ball control and experience in this class," Hardin said. "This group will blend extremely well with the players we have returning. We were looking for players with competitive attitudes and compatible attitudes, and we have found three exceptional examples of that in these players."

Belter was the first to commit to Hardin, giving the Illini program one of its earliest oral commitments in school history. She is a heralded recruit from the St. Louis area, having spent two years on the Youth National Team. Belter, who chose the Illini over Nebraska, has experience playing at both the middle blocker and outside hitter positions.

Harks, from St. Charles High School, spent her sophomore and junior seasons as a right side hitter. She began training this past summer at the setter position and took over as the starting setter her senior year. She signed with the Illini after considering Michigan and Clemson.

The Virtue name is already a familiar one in Big Ten volleyball, as Erin is the younger sister of Katie Virtue, Ohio State's starting setter. Virtue is enjoying a successful senior season, having led St. Francis High School to a Super Sectional victory last weekend. She will be in Normal, Illinois this weekend as her team plays in the state quarterfinals. Virtue chose Illinois over Michigan and Tennessee.

Harks and Virtue are both part of the legendary Sports Performance club team in Chicago. Illinois has a tradition of signing players from the nationally recognized club, as Illini greats such as Mary Eggers, Nancy Brookhart, Sandy Hamilton, and Tracey Marshall all played for Sports Performance.

"We feel that it's important to establish ourselves within the state, and especially Chicago and the surrounding areas," assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Anne Kordes said. "Year after year some of the best volleyball players in the country, not just the state, come out of Chicago. We're working hard to have the name "Illinois" visible in the Chicago area."

ILLINOIS VOLLEYBALL RECRUITS

JESSICA BELTER

6-4, Middle Blocker/Outside Hitter

St. Peters, Missouri

Fort Zumwalt South High School

Coach: Doug Steinmeyer

High School: Two-year member of Youth National Team ... Earned second team All-State honors a sophomore and junior ... First team all-conference (Gateway Atlantic) and all-district all four years ... Led Fort Zumwalt to a fourth place finish in state in 1998 and a runner-up finish in sectionals this season ... Also played basketball in high school and will run track in the spring ... Played club volleyball for Team St. Louis during the summers.

Personal: Full given name is Jessica Dee Belter ... Goes by the name Jessy ... Daughter of Dan and Karen Belter ... Biggest thrill in volleyball was playing on the Youth National Team in Puerto Rico ... Four-year honor roll student ... Lists favorite hobby as taking pictures and hopes to work as a photographer for a magazine or newspaper after college.

Hardin on Belter: "At 6-4, Jessy can play in the back row as well as anyone. She is very agile and has a great arm swing. She's versatile, can play any front row position and has a very teachable attitude."

LAUREN HARKS

6-1, Setter/Outside Hitter

St. Charles, Illinois

St. Charles High School

Coach: Jennie Kull

High School: A three-year starter and two-year Co-Captain, she was named to the Chicago Sun-Times all-area team after leading St. Charles to a 35-5 record as a senior ... Two-time unanimous All-Conference selection (Upstate Eight) ... Part of three-straight conference championship teams, as St. Charles went a combined 42-0 ... Named team MVP, Kane County Chronicle Player of the Year, and Daily Herald All-Area Team as a junior ... After starting at middle hitter as a sophomore and junior, switched to starting setter as a senior ... Member of Sports Performance club team which finished third in the country at the 2000 Jr. National Tournament.

Personal: Full given name is Lauren Elizabeth Harks ... Daughter of Glenn and Kathy Harks ... Honor roll student and National Honor Society member ... Chose Illinois "because of the great coaching staff and wonderful chemistry within the team" ... Lists Club coach Rick Butler as influencing her career the most "because he has taught me so much. He always pursues excellence and that is why I am where I am today."

Hardin on Harks: "Lauren is a very steady player who rises to the occasion and steps up her play when the pressure is on. She is one of the most versatile players I've ever recruited, who has the potential to succeed at any position. She'll train at setter, but will contribute from other positions as well."

ERIN VIRTUE

5-8, Setter

St. Charles, Illinois

St. Francis High School

Coach: Peg Kopec

High School: Has led St. Francis to the IHSA Class AA state quarterfinals as a senior, tallying 350 assists and 183 kills ... Named to the 2000 All-Area teams by the Chicago Sun-Times, the Daily Herald, and the Naperville Sun ... Led St. Francis to back-to-back Suburban Catholic Conference Championships ... Member of Sports Performance club volleyball team ... Earned All-American AAU honors in 1999 and 2000.

Personal: Full given name is Erin Elizabeth Virtue ... Daughter of Patrick and Carol Virtue ... Older sister, Katie, is the starting setter at Ohio State ... Four-year honor roll student and member of National Honor Society ... Favorite athlete is Marion Jones "because of her determination and her ability to focus on her goals." ... Lists sister Katie as the person who has most influenced her career "because she has always believed in me, even when others didn't."

Hardin on Virtue: "Erin has an exceptionally competitive attitude. She's a very experienced setter who is one of the top setters and defensive players in the country.