INA, IL (December 14, 2021) – Postseason awards from the volleyball season have been handed down, and a quartet of Lady Warriors have been recognized for their stellar efforts this fall.

Sophomore middle hitter Bianca Huddson (Herrin) and freshman outside hitter Dylann Torres (Greeley, CO) were both named to the Great Rivers Athletic All-Conference team.

Huddson led the team this season in hitting percentage at a whopping .340, and she was ranked 23rd in the nation for her hitting. Throughout her career at Rend Lake, she hammered down 353 kills.

Huddson also led the team in blocks per set with 1.14 and was ranked 16th in the country in that category. She had 132 total blocks this season.

Torres was another lethal attacker for Rend Lake. She was the team leader in kills per set averaging 3.01. In total, she had 331 during her first collegiate season.
In regional nods, Hudson and sophomore libero Abby Wesselmann (Nashville) were selected for the NJCAA All-Region 24 Second Team.

Wesselmann finished seventh in the nation in digs per set, averaging 6.16, and eighth in total digs for the season (715). In her career as a Warrior, she scooped up 880 digs as the Warriors’ defense specialist.

Sophomore setter Paige Hand (Marissa) received an All-Region 24 honorable mention. She averaged 8.47 assists per set this year and had a total of 1,130 throughout her time as a Warrior. She was ranked 30th in the nation for assists per set.

Rend Lake completed its first winning record this fall in 15 years. They ended the season 19-12 overall and 8-6 in GRAC play.

Looking back on the season, Warriors Head Coach Reggie Bateman said it was a year of ups and downs but overall, he was grateful for a full, healthy season that was not derailed by injuries or illness. He also said he was pleased with the way the team pulled together and left it all out on the floor.

“It’s a great recognition for all of the hard work that they put in, all of the early morning practices, the training, putting up with me telling them what to do,” Bateman said. “My sophomores did an incredible job and they exceeded all expectations. And my freshmen are ready to have the torch passed to them.”