NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State volleyball's incoming freshman class was recognized earlier this month in the Highest Honorable Mention category of the annual recruiting rankings published by PrepVolleyball.com.
Each spring, the publication assembles a list of the nation's top 30 recruiting classes, along with additional honorable mention categories, with the help of more than 100 college coaches based on the cumulative impact each class could make during its time at each respective school.
The Redbirds' incoming recruiting class includes Kendee Hilliard (6-0, OH/RS, Vanguard College Prep/West, Texas), Katelyn Keefe (5-10, DS/libero, Guilford/Rockford, Illinois), Sarah Kushner (5-9, OH, Naperville North/Naperville, Illinois), Nicole Lund (6-2, MB, Century/Rochester, Minnesota), Emmy Ogogor (6-1, MB, O'Connor/Helotes, Texas), Allie Otten (5-9, S, St. Dominic/St. Peters, Missouri), Kaity Weimerskirch (5-6, libero, Champlin Park/Champlin, Minnesota) and Paige Hilliard (5-10, OH, Punahou, Ka'a'awa, Hawai'i).
PrepVolleyball does not evaluate transfers in connection with its recruiting class rating, meaning Hilliard's future contributions to the program are not factored into the rankings.
Illinois State, which is coming off a 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Regular Season Championship and NCAA Tournament berth, will begin its third season under the direction of head coach Leah Johnson in the fall of 2019. Johnson has compiled an impressive 47-21 (.691) record in her two seasons at the helm, guiding the Redbirds to a pair of top-25 wins while aiding in the team's success to finish in the top-25 nationally in several statistical categories.
2019 HOME SCHEDULE
The Redbird Classic returns to Redbird Arena in 2019, as Illinois State will welcome 2018 NCAA Tournament participants Illinois, UCF and Marquette on Sept. 13-15. The meeting between the Redbirds and the Illini at 7 p.m. on Sept. 13 will be the first in nearly 10 years to the date, while ISU's matchup with UCF on Sept. 14 will be just the second in program history. Illinois State will close the Redbird Classic at 3 p.m. on Sept. 15 against Marquette, as the Redbirds will look for their first win over the Golden Eagles since ISU pulled off a 3-2 upset in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
Illinois State will close the month of September and open Missouri Valley Conference play on Sept. 27-28, when Missouri State and Southern Illinois trek to Normal. A pair of contests against Loyola Chicago (Oct. 18) and Valparaiso (Oct. 19) will be the Redbirds' lone home matches in October, before returning to Redbird Arena for five matches in November. ISU will host Bradley (Nov. 1), UNI (Nov. 8), Drake (Nov. 9), Indiana State (Nov. 22) and Evansville (Nov. 23) during that stretch.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
General admission adult season tickets are available for just $50. Children 12 years old and younger can receive free admission to all regular-season home contests with a Reggie's Kids Club membership card. Children can be registered for free on the club's website. Season ticket holders making a $100 contribution to the Weisbecker Scholarship Fund will receive a complimentary parking pass. The pass is valid for the 2019 volleyball season and located in the F62 lot outside the east entrance of Redbird Arena. Fans interested in purchasing new season tickets, and current season ticket holders wishing to renew, can visit GoRedbirds.com/tickets or call the ISU Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
