CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois Volleyball Head Coach Chris Tamas announced the addition of two transfers on Thursday. Vivian Campbell and Averie Hernandez will complete the 2024 Fighting Illini roster, joining six newcomers for the upcoming campaign.
"Today, we add two exceptional players and people to our roster," Tamas said. "Both homegrown talents provide us with tremendous skill and depth to our roster as well as being overall great teammates and people. We are excited to add them both to the Orange and Blue today.
Vivian Campbell // Oswego, Ill. // Oswego East // 1st Alliance Club // S // 5-10
Notes: Transfer from Cincinnati... Appeared in eight matches, covering 12 sets… Made Bearcat debut against Xavier (8/26/23)… Recorded a season-high of 27 assists and six digs against Butler (9/15/23)... Named First Team All-State at Oswego East… AVCA 2022 Girls High School All-Region Team selection… Earned AVCA Girls All-American Honorable Mention accolades… Two-time All-Conference selection… Led team to a program-best 27 wins as a senior… Guided team to first-ever first-place conference finish and first-ever regional championship in 2022… Named team MVP… Played club volleyball for 1st Alliance.
Coach Tamas on Campbell: "Vivian has a very nice delivery as a setter and the thing that stuck out to me the most when watching her film was that she can be very deceptive, which I think you need to be at our level. She has some nice experience from her high school, club, and former college. She will add a lot to our gym in the fall and beyond."
Why Illinois? "I chose Illinois because of how much it feels like a family and because of the dedication and trust the program has in its culture."
Averie Hernandez // Bloomington, Ill. // Normal Community West HS // Illini Elite Volleyball Club // OH // 6-2
Notes: Transfer from Northwestern... As a sophomore, played in 25 matches, making nine starts... Amassed double-digit kills on 14 separate occasions... Tallied a season-best 21 kills against Indiana (10/29/23)... Added a pair of assists at Northeastern (9/9/23)... logged a season-best 14 digs against the Hoosiers (10/29/24)... Posted four aces against Illinois (11/25/23)... Tallied three blocks at Penn State (11/28/24)... Tallied 15 kills, 11 digs, and nine aces as a freshman in 2022... Recorded her first kill in her first collegiate action against Northeastern (8/27/22) ... Tallied six kills against Rutgers (10/7/22) ... Had three aces against Purdue (10/28/22) ... Notched three kills on six attempts against Ohio St. (11/4/22)... Nominated for 2020 Gatorade Player of the Year … 2018, 2019, and 2020 All-State selection … 2018, 2019, and 2020 First Team All-Conference … Big 12 Scholar Athlete … 2018 and 2019 Lincoln Invite All-Tournament Team … Four-year letter winner … Two-time captain … Holds both single-season and career kill records at Normal West … Over 1,000 career high school kills … Led team to Regional Championship in 2018 and 2021 … Played seven seasons for Illini Elite Volleyball Club … Ranked 35th best played in class of 2022 by Prep Volleyball....
Coach Tamas on Hernandez: "Averie has some good experience in the Big Ten. She has an all around skill set and she is able to play with speed on the pin and we were very impressed with her serve towards the end of last year. Every match we watched her play, she got better and better earning the right to play six rotations by the end of the year. She will give us a lot of options both in the front and back court."
Why Illinois? "I knew that the fan base at Illinois was so supportive and the family aspect of this program is real. I chose Illinois because I have full confidence in the people behind the scenes helping my teammates and I reach our full potential on and off the court. I can't wait to get started!"
