The News-Gazette.com Weblog

Touching all the Bases

The beat goes on

Posted by: Jeff Huth

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 5:24 PM

Each of the past two years, Don Hardin said with full confidence his incoming recruiting class would make an immediate impact.
These were hardly surprising statements, considering that his Illinois volleyball program was in the process of digging itself out a downward slide. Or considering that recruiting experts ranked Hardin's 2007 class the sixth best in the nation and his 2008 class No. 20.
On Wednesday, when the Illini coach stood at a podium in the Memorial Stadium press box, the message was much the same. Hardin said he expected at least two of his three signees - outside hitter Jessica Jendryk of Lisle Benet Academy and middle blocker Erin Johnson of Crystal Lake South - to make their presence felt quickly.
"I anticipate they're going to make a huge impact early in their careers," Hardin said on the first day of the early signing period for the national letter of intent. "Whether it's right away - the team's doing pretty well - we'll see. But they're certainly capable of playing at this level early in their career."
If they do, it will be a strong sign that the arrow continues to point straight up on the Illini volleyball recruiting front. After all, virtually every key player on an Illini team currently ranked 17th in the nation, No. 6 in the NCAA RPI and tied for second in the Big Ten standings is scheduled to return next season. Except for Lizzie Bazzetta - one of the setters in Illinois' two-setter attack - the current playing rotation is composed entirely of non-seniors.
Seemingly, this is going to be a tough lineup to crack in 2009. But that's how high Hardin is on Jendryk and Johnson. High enough to compare them to current Illini freshman starter Michelle Bartsch, the No. 16-rated player in the Class of 2008 and a growing force in her first college season.
"These two together are every bit the level of competitors and athletes that you see in Michelle Bartsch as a freshman," Hardin said. "It keeps us moving on an upward swing with our program. It's been a building process talentwise. ... This is yet another step up with these girls."
The UI recruiting class also includes Jackie Wolfe of Wheaton Warrenville South, who is expected to provide depth at setter.
The 6-foot-1 Jendryk was ranked the No. 45 senior in the nation by prepvolleyball.com entering the 2008 high school season. She plays middle blocker for a Benet team that takes a 34-1 record into the IHSA Class 4A state semifinals on Friday. In that role, Jendryk is hitting .447 with a team-leading 103 blocks and was voted MVP of the East Suburban Catholic Conference.
However, Jendryk plays outside hitter - her projected college position - in club ball and has earned AAU All-America honors at that position with the Chicago area Sports Performance club.
Illini assistant coach Kevin Hambly likens Jendryk's skills and athleticism to UI outside hitter Laura DeBruler, who ranks seventh nationally in kills per set.
"Maybe not quite as refined a player as DeBruler was (as a prep senior) but certainly has potential to be an outside hitter of that caliber," Hambly said.
Johnson was prepvolleyball.com's No. 57-rated senior entering the season. She's been identified by USA Volleyball as one of the nation's top middle prospects, earning a spot on the USA Youth National A2 Team in 2007 and 2008.
Wolfe agreed to come to the UI with the understanding that her scholarship was guaranteed only for her freshman season. She and current freshman Keelin Bourne, who is setting out this season following hip surgery, will back up returning setter Hillary Haen.
Due to her high school team's needs, Wolfe moved from setter to outside hitter midway through this season. Despite standing 5-foot-9, Wolfe produced 129 kills to go with 354 assists.
"I think what that speaks to is her athleticism," Hambly said. "She a little bit of a smaller player but certainly an athlete to be able to play in the Chicago area as an outside hitter."
Wolfe's college future, however, is strictly at setter. Illini coaches are confident that another season of setting with Sports Performance before she arrives at Illinois will speed her development at that position.
"(Sports Performance) is really well known for its turnout of tremendous setters," Hardin said.
Realistically, Haen's job for 2009 appears secure. The same can be said for DeBruler, Bartsch and middle blocker Johannah Bangert, the NCAA leader in blocks per set. Libero Ashley Edinger, the school's career digs leader, certainly will be a fixture in the back row, too, next year.
But Hardin reiterated Wednesday that his newest arrivals, at the least, will force some current starters to battle to keep their jobs.
"These (recruits), especially in the middle and outside, could potentially break into the lineup immediately, depending on how much better our current players get and how they continue to progress," the Illini coach said. "Without question there is competition for those spots. Our current players and those coming in know it's wide open."