CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Head coach Chris Tamas announced on Thursday the signing of Northern Iowa transfer Lindsay Oldendorf for the 2026 season. Oldendorf will join Illinois for her final year of eligibility after spending time at San Francisco and UNI.
A 6-foot-3 middle blocker from Homer Glen, Illinois, she will complete her degree at Northern Iowa this spring before arriving at Illinois in the summer.
"Lindsay has a lot of great qualities that make her a great fit for our program," Tamas said. "She has proven her game at every level she has been at. Lindsay brings great vision with her attacking and her ability to mix in different shots. Blocking-wise, she moves well from side to side and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Furthermore, being an Illinois native, she knows what this school means to the state and wanted to wear the Orange and Blue in her final season. We always look for players who have the passion to be here, and Lindsay fits the bill in every way. We look forward to adding her to the team this summer after she completes her undergrad degree."
"I chose Illinois because of the wonderful coaching staff, the tradition they have built here, and the amazing support the athletes receive at Illinois," Oldendorf said. "I want to have the best last season I can of my college career, and I am so grateful to be doing it here at Illinois."
Oldendorf competed at Northern Iowa in 2025, earning All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team honors in her lone season with the Panthers. Making 26 appearances and 24 starts, Oldendorf hit .361 while averaging 1.52 kills/set and 1.03 blocks/set. She posted three matches with double-digit kills while registering multiple blocks in 19 outings.
Prior to her time at UNI, Oldendorf spent the first three seasons of her collegiate career at San Francisco. During her three-year stint on the West Coast, the Illinois native played in 44 matches while averaging 1.66 kills/set and 0.73 blocks/set and hitting at a .344 clip. After playing in 10 matches as a freshman in 2022, she logged action in 110 sets, competed in 29 matches, recorded 203 kills, and averaged 1.85 kills/set in 2023.
Playing in only five matches in 2024, she took advantage of her limited opportunities with 1.55 kills/set, 0.91 blocks/set, and a .412 hitting percentage.
Oldendorf was a three-time regional champion and two-time all-conference honoree at Lockport Township High School. At the club level, she played for both 1st Alliance and Adversity, qualifying in open for the USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championships every year from grades 9-12.
