CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Head coach Chris Tamas and the Illinois volleyball program announced the addition of junior Jessica Nunge to the 2021 roster on Friday (June 4). A 6-2 outside/right side hitter from Newburgh, Indiana, Nunge transferred to Illinois following two years at Florida State University.
Nunge joins incoming freshmen Brooke Mosher (Waterloo, Wisconsin), Caroline Barnes (Naperville, Illinois), Sarah Bingham (Fairway, Kansas) and Becca Sakoda (Honolulu, Hawaii) as the newest additions to the Illini volleyball roster.
Jessica Nunge // Newburgh, Indiana // Florida State // Castle High School // Evansville United Volleyball Academy // Outside/Right Side Hitter // 6-2
Florida State Notes: Started 16 of the 18 matches she saw action in and played in 63 sets as a sophomore … Totaled 79 kills on a .177 hitting percentage, as well as 97 digs, 32 blocks, 15 assists and 12 service aces … Posted a career-high nine kills with nine digs, five blocks and three aces against North Carolina (3/27) … Notched a career-high 16 digs against UCF (2/26) …. Served up a career-high four aces against Syracuse (4/2) … Played in 17 matches and 43 sets as a freshman, including two starts…finished with 36 kills, 46 digs, 28 blocks, three service aces and a pair of assists… Made her collegiate debut and totaled three kills, five digs and a block against No. 5 Wisconsin (8/30) in the season opener … Recorded eight digs, three kills and a block on the road at TCU (9/8) … Finished with five kills, nine digs, two blocks and two aces against Stony Brook (9/13) … Tallied six kills and two blocks on the road at No. 2 Pitt (11/22) … Closed out the regular season with six blocks, three digs and a kill at Miami (11/30) … Recorded five blocks, one kill and two digs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against UCF (12/5).
High School/Club Notes: As a member of the USA Volleyball Youth A1 Team, she was named to the USA High Performance All-Tournament Team in 2017 … As a senior, she was named a Pre-Season All-American, a First Team MaxPreps High School All-American, a First Team All-SIAC Conference honoree, an IndyStar Sports Award Finalist, and was named both First Team All-State and All-District … Two-time All-Metro Player of the Year (2017-18) … Four-time All-Metro Team (2015-18) … Four-Time SIAC First Team All-Conference (2015-18) … 2017 All-American … Two-time Team MVP (2017-18) … Also played basketball at Castle, earning All-State Honorable Mention (2016-17), First Team All-Conference (2016-18) and Team MVP (2016-18) honors … Named All-State her senior year, and earned the Scholastic "C" Award in recognition of a GPA above 3.5 in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Why Illinois?
"I chose Illinois because the coaches and players have been incredibly kind and welcoming. Illinois feels family-oriented and like somewhere I can make a home, away from home. Not only that, but Illinois has a long-standing history of high achievement in both athletics and academics."
Coach Tamas on Nunge
"Jessica has a lot of playing experience. In conversation with her and those around her, she wants to continue to challenge herself at the highest levels to become the best she can be and continue to grow as a person and player. She will be a great addition to the Illini family."
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