Graduate Student - 2015

• Will compete as a graduate student after completing her Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science in just three years.
• Received the Jonathan Baldwin Turner Graduate Fellowship.

Junior - 2014

• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Award
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Illini Leader of Merit Award
• Saw action against Southern Illinois at the Illini Classic but did not record any statistics.

Sophomore - 2013

• Academic All-Big Ten
• Illini Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award
• Played in three matches as a sophomore, stuffing two blocks.
• Made her first career appearance at LBSU in the Long Beach State Mizuno Invitational, registering two blocks in the fourth set.
• Came in as an extra blocker for a key point against No. 14 San Diego.
• Saw action in the third set at No. 16 Wisconsin.

Freshman - 2012

• Earned a varsity letter, but did not see action.

High School

• Member of New Trier team that advanced to the Elite Eight in 2011 and won the the IHSA Regional and Central Suburban League in 2010.
• Named an all-conference scholar-athlete team captain.
• High school coach was Hannah Hsieh.
• Played for Northshore Assault in 2010 (coached by Julie Wiejek), Energy in 2011 (coached by Mike Sopocy) and Rolling Thunder in 2012 (coached by Melissa Seelinger).
• Rolling Thunder placed 17th of 109 teams in the Great Lakes Power League and 9th of 140 teams at the AAU Nationals, and earned a bid to the JVA Power League Championships.

Personal

• Daughter of Steve and Laura Polkoff.
• Has one brother, Michael.
• Majoring in animal science.
• Member of the New Trier Honor Society, the New Trier Service and NJCL Latin Honor Society.
• Named an Illinois State Scholar.

Career Single-Match Highs

K: -
TA: -
A: -
SA: -
D: -
BS: -
BA: 2 at Long Beach State (8/30/13)
TB: 2 at Long Beach State (8/30/13)

Getting to know Kathryn

Nicknames: KP, Kip, Kippy, Kipper, Skip
Career Plans: Science! Perhaps a professor
Fun Fact: I played field hockey instead of volleyball in 7th and 8th grade.
Favorite Movies: Good Will Hunting, Tangled, Gladiator, The Dark Knight
Movie You Regret Seeing in Theatres: Cloverfield
Restaurant you have to get to when going home: Portillos
Favorite Midnight Snack:Mini Wheats in a coffee mug.
What's on your "Bucket List"?: Backpack around Europe, write a book, learn to play piano, see the Northern Lights.
Favorite TV Shows: Friends, Mad Men, Sherlock
What are you most proud of and why? Being a part of this amazing program with these amazing people.
Favorite Book: Heart of Darkness
Favorite quote: "Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing. Moderation is for cowards." - Lone Survivor
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:Peanut Butter Oreo
Weirdest Quirk: Everything about me is a weird quirk.