NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State volleyball's Lexi Wallen has joined the Redbird women's basketball team and will be active to play immediately, ISU head coach Kristen Gillespie announced Thursday.
A six-rotation player on the volleyball court from Champaign, Illinois, Wallen tallied 387 kills and 553 digs in her four-year career as a member of the Redbird volleyball program. The four-year letterwinner set a career-high 17 kills against Missouri State last season, reaching double-digit kills seven times in 2017, while notching a career-high 20 digs at nationally ranked UNI last year. Wallen's serve was a key component to Illinois State's nationally-ranked point scoring, including a match-winning service ace against Valparaiso.
Wallen will be on the bench for tomorrow night's women's basketball contest at Northern Kentucky.
"We are thrilled to welcome Lexi into our program," Coach Gillespie said. "She was an outstanding high school player and will provide much-needed depth."
Setting the Stage
While Wallen has been a four-year member of the volleyball program at Illinois State, the senior was a three-sport standout at St. Thomas More High School in Champaign, Illinois, from 2011-15. She owns the school record with over 2,200 points scored as a member of the basketball team and was a three-time all-state selection. Wallen helped guide her team to a state championship her junior season after a runner-up finish the previous year. After graduating from high school in 2015, Wallen was the runaway choice as The News-Gazette's Area Female Senior Athlete of the Year. In her final season, she was tabbed Player of the Year in volleyball and basketball, and was a first-team selection in soccer.
"We are so excited to see Lexi (Wallen) take her talents to the basketball court," head volleyball coach Leah Johnson shared. "The Redbird basketball program is gaining an athlete with a great work ethic and high character. She is an exceptional teammate that always puts the team's success before her own and is willing to go the extra mile. It is a true testament to Lexi Wallen, the athlete that she can compete at the Division I level in two sports. There is no doubt that Lexi will be of value in this team's success this season."
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