Volleyball

UIS Volleyball Announces Spring Recruiting Class

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The UIS volleyball program has signed four players in the spring period it was announced today by Prairie Star Head Coach Angie Riggle.

The Prairie Stars have inked Colleen Gentile, Samantha Krilich, Kellee Mahaffay and Bianca Sanchez for the 2010 campaign.

Gentile is a native of Calumet City, Ill. who prepped at Thornton Fractional North and then attended Prairie State College. In high school she was a two-time team captain and named first team All-SICA conference as a senior. She won four letters in volleyball and badminton. Gentile was also a first team all-region pick as a sophomore at Prairie State and was twice a first-team All-Skyway Collegiate Conference performer.

“Colleen will bring valuable experience and depth to the program at the setter position,” Riggle said. “We will look to Colleen to provide leadership and direction immediately.”

Krilich comes to Springfield from Lansing, Ill. She graduated from Thornton Fractional South High School and Prairie State College. In high school she was a two-year letter winner in volleyball and was honorable mention All-Area as a senior, she also earned all-conference honors. A two-year starter at Prairie State, she was twice a first team All-Skyway Collegiate Conference pick and the NJCAA National Player of the Week as a sophomore. Krilich was a second team NJCAA All-American after her sophomore season.

“We will look to Sam to provide consistent all-around play,” Riggle said. “Her speed and power will raise the level of our play for the program from day one. She has a strong work ethic and dedication to the game that will bring huge benefits to our program.”

Mahaffay played at Coal City High School in Coal City, Ill. A three-year starter, she lead the team in kills as a junior and senior and digs as a senior as her team won back-to-back conference titles. Mahaffay won the team’s High Point Award after both junior and senior seasons and was a two-time All-Interstate 8 conference pick. Mahaffay was an all-area selection by the Kankakee Daily Journal, Joliet Herald News and the Morris Daily Herald. She was also the 2009 Sportswoman of the Year by the Free Press newsapapers.

“Kellee brings so much intensity and hard work to the court. She is a competitor with a tremendous energy level and has a skill set that will enable her to play a variety of positions for us,” Riggle said.

Sanchez is a native of Plainfield, Ill. who played at South High School. She was a three-year starter and a first team All-Conference pick.  The league’s player of the week as a senior, Sanchez led the district and was second in the conference in digs. She holds school record for career digs and was a two-time winner of the team’s Best Defender Award. She was also twice named to the Plainfield Sun News All-Area team.

“Bianca will bring a spark of energy on the back line,” Riggle said. “She has a great read on hitters and outstanding ball control.

The foursome will join the trio of Maddy Barnes, Maggie Bee and Brittnee Wojciechowski who signed in the fall and walk-on Haylie Stone.