CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Head coach Chris Tamas and the No. 4 Illinois volleyball program announced the addition of three student-athletes on Wednesday (November 14) as Ellie Holzman (New Orleans, Louisiana), Kennedy Collins (Zion, Illinois) and Kyla Swanson (Wahoo, Nebraska) signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Illini for the 2019 season.
Ellie Holzman // New Orleans, Louisiana // Mount Carmel Academy // Adidas WD Nation // Outside Hitter/Middle Blocker // 6-2
Notes: 2018 AVCA Under Armour All-American Third-Team honoree … Named PrepVolleyball.com Senior Ace No. 36 … Two-time Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year in 2017 and 2016 … Four-time Division I Louisiana State Champion with Mount Carmel Academy … Three-time Division I Louisiana State Championship MVP … Two-time Louisiana Volleyball Coaches Association (LVCA) Division I Player of the Year … Three-time LVCA All-State Team honoree … 2017 New Orleans Advocate Female Athlete of the Year … As a sophomore earned Times-Picayune Female Athlete of the Year and Clarion Herald New Orleans Advocate All-Metro Player of the Year … Named to All-New Orleans Area Large School Team as a freshman … Listed as PrepVolleyball.com Frosh 59, Soph 79 and a Top 50 Junior Recruit as well as being named a finalist for Freshman of the Year Finalist and Sophomore of the Year accolades… Named to MaxPreps National High School Player of the Year Watchlist and was a Preseason All-American First-Team as a junior, while also earning MaxPreps Sophomore of the Year accolades and MaxPreps High School All-America Third-Team honors as a sophomore … Named to MaxPreps Freshman All-America Team … Three-time PrepVolleyball.com All-American … Helped lead her Adidas WD Nation club team to the 2018 AAU 17s Open Division National Championship and was named MVP of the tournament … Selected to USA Volleyball Youth A1 National Training Team First-Team and earned a gold medal and collected all-tournament team honors at the USA Volleyball HP Championship in the Women's International Junior Division.
Why Illinois?
"I fell in love with the coaching staff, the team atmosphere, the school and education, the campus and the Big Ten Conference. I love everything about the school and the people there."
Coach Tamas on Holzman
"Ellie is a proven winner. She is a four-time state champion, a three-time state MVP and she was also MVP of last years' AAU's 17-Open, leading her team to the championship in Orlando. She was also named 2016 and 2017 Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year. Ellie has a strong arm and volleyball IQ. I have been most impressed with her ability to lead her team under pressured moments. She has the ability to play multiple positions on the floor and has been playing six rotations for the last few seasons, which is an important as ever for top-level players. Ellie will be a great addition to Illinois volleyball and we look forward to her wearing orange and blue."
Kennedy Collins // Zion, Illinois // Zion-Benton High School // Sky High Volleyball Club // Outside Hitter // 6-3
Notes: Three-time North Suburban Conference honoree … Earned Lake County News-Sun All-Area honors as a junior after leading her Zion-Benton High School with 203 kills and 62 blocks … Totaled 144 kills and 35 blocks as a sophomore at ZBHS … Four-Time Zion-Benton High School Team MVP … Four-year honor roll student … Plays for Sky High Volleyball Club, where she helped lead her team to qualify for Nationals.
Why Illinois?
"I chose the University of Illinois because it is one of the top three schools in the Midwest, the diversity of the student body, and the competition that Big Ten volleyball provides."
Coach Tamas on Collins
"I had my first insight to Kennedy a few years ago when she came to an Illinois volleyball camp. We had a long day of training and Kennedy's last swing of the day was just as good as her first and her intensity remained the same the whole day. The work ethic and stamina that she showed that day was impressive and it is what is needed to help win big time battles in the Big Ten Conference. Every time I have watched her play, whether it is practice or a game, she gives 100 percent effort. That dedication to work is exactly what we are looking for here at Illinois. We look forward to developing her skill to the next level of play and for her to help us continue the high level of success we've had in the past few seasons."
Kyla Swanson // Wahoo, Nebraska // Wahoo High School // VCN Volleyball Club Nebraska // Middle Blocker // 6-4
Notes: 2018 AVCA Under Armour All-American Second-Team honoree … Ranked as No. 1 volleyball players in the class of 2019 in the state of Nebraska by PrepDig.com … A four-year letter winner, she led her Wahoo High School team to back-to-back Class C-1 State Championships in 2017 and 2018 … Selected to play in Nebraska's 2019 All-Star Game … AAU 17's Club Volleyball All-American … Earned NSAA Second-Team All-State accolades in 2017 … Earned 2018 PrepDig.com NSAA All-Class All-Tournament Team honors in 2018 … Registered the highest hitting percentage in the state of Nebraska in 2017 (.488) and in 2018 (.462) … Helped lead her Volleyball Club Nebraska team to a 10th place finish at the 2018 AAU Nationals and a fifth-place finish at the 2017 AAU Nationals, as well as the Heartland Cup Tournament championship and the Power League Championship … Also a four-year letter winner in basketball and one-year letter winner in track at WHS.
Why Illinois?
"'Sports build good habits, confidence, and discipline. They make players into community leaders and teach them how to strive for a goal, handle mistakes, and cherish growth opportunities. -Julie Foudy.' I chose Illinois because I know that I will be able to accomplish growth in character, academics, and athletics here."
Coach Tamas on Swanson
"Kyla is a force at the net and has displayed her talents both at the club and high school level, helping Wahoo High School to back-to-back state championships. At 6-4, she is a true middle blocker. She was No. 1 in hitting percentage for the past two seasons in the state of Nebraska and she set multiple single-match and season blocking records. At the club level, she has helped VCN to multiple tournament wins and high finishes at AAU tournaments. She is a hard worker and her development over the last few years has been impressive under both of these programs. We are excited to continue that development and add Kyla to our roster and we look forward to her contributions as an Illini."
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