Volleyball signs Jessica Hemann
04/11/2008 | 12:00:00 | Women's Volleyball
April 11, 2008
By Shalae Patrick
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois volleyball team inks its second athlete for 2008 Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler announced Thursday.
The Salukis add 5-9 right side and outside hitter Jessica Hemann from Breese, Ill., to the team for 2008. The Salukis return all six starters and libero in the fall, losing two senior defensive specialists at the end of the 2007 season. In the fall, Winkeler signed 6-0 setter and right side hitter Amanda Arnold from Toledo, Ohio.
Hemann, currently a senior at Breese Central, recently helped guide her team to a Class 2A State Championship. As a senior, she finished the season with 302 kills, 246 digs and 153 blocks. Her junior year, she recorded 321 kills and 230 blocks.
In 2006 and 2007, she was named All-State second team, to the Belleville News Democrat's Small School All-Area first team, Cahokia Conference first team and honorable mention St. Louis Post Dispatch All-Metro.
Hemann also won state titles in basketball and track and field in the high jump in 2007.
"Jessica is an outstanding athlete with great jumping ability and quickness," Winkeler said. "She's a fierce competitor and plays for a high school program that challenges for the state title every year. She will be a player that will excel in the collegiate game."
In three season under Winkeler, the Salukis have posted the best record since 2002 and reached the SIU and MVC record books in several categories. In 2005, SIU garnered the first All-MVC first-team honoree since 2002. In 2007, Winkeler and her staff guided the Salukis to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament for the first time since 2002.