May 29, 2007

Champaign, Ill. - All precincts are reporting and Illinois has garnered the No. 6 ranked volleyball recruiting class in the nation according to prepvolleyball.com's list of top 30 classes nationally.

In November, Illinois announced the signing of Hillary Haen, a 5-10 setter for Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake, Ill., Laura DeBruler, a 5-10 outside hitter from Downers Grove (Ill.) North High School, Johannah Bangert, a 6-1 middle blocker from Washington (Mo.) High School, Nicole Kump, a 6-1 middle blocker from Joliet (Ill.) Catholic High School and Abby Nelson, a 6-3 middle blocker from Chicago Marist High School.

All five members were ranked in the top 100 in the class of 2007 last fall, three of which are listed in the top 50 nationally. Commenting on the class prepvolleyball.com's John Tawa writes, "Haen, who graduated early to begin training with the Illini, is a great thinker in the setter position and one who simply makes her teammates better. DeBruler, a great defender, is fast and powerful on the left. Of the three middles, Bangert and Kump are long, fast and athletic, while Nelson is pure power."

Illinois fans will get a chance to see some good volleyball over the next four years. Five of the top 11 recruiting classes are from the Big Ten with the Illini behind only No. 4 Minnesota on the list among conference schools. Stanford edged Texas out for the top spot. Rounding out the top 11 are USC (3), Nebraska (5), Purdue (7), Kentucky (8), UCLA (9), Ohio State (10) and Penn State (11). Michigan (15), Northwestern (20) and Wisconsin (30) also were listed among the top 30. The Illini were the only team not ranked at all during 2006 to be listed in top ten recruiting classes.

"It's great that others have recognized the talent and ability of this class," said Illinois head coach Don Hardin. "With the Big Ten Network starting this fall, it's also nice to see the conference as a whole noted for its strong volleyball. Illinois fans should strap themselves in for a great ride for the next few years."

For the complete story, go to prepvolleyball.com.