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Nov. 11, 2009

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois continues to bring in national-level talent to a program, now among the top five in the country. Illinois head coach Kevin Hambly announced the signing of 5-9 libero Jennifer Bonilla (Reseda, Calif./Marymount H.S.), 6-3 middle blocker Anna Dorn (Munster, Ind./Munster H.S.) and 6-1 outside hitter Jazmine Orozco (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood H.S.).

"I am extremely excited about the 2010 class," said Illinois head coach Kevin Hambly. "We have had a nice run of talent choosing Illinois over the last few years. This class may prove to be the best of them all. While we will have a lot of talent returning next year, all three of these players have the ability to play a significant role immediately for us. I am excited to see where this group can take us by the time they are seniors."

• Dorn is ranked as the No. 6 player in the class by prepvolleyball.com, the highest rated player that Illinois has ever signed. She has been named to USA Volleyball High Performance teams in each of the past three seasons - the 2007 Girls' Select A1 team that won a gold medal at the International Junior Division High Performance championship, the 2008 Youth team that competed in Europe and the 2009 Youth National Training Team.

Dorn led the Muster Mustangs (coached by Tracy Afman) to three straight Northwest Crossroads Conference titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and to sectional titles in both 2008 and 2009. She earned The Times first team all-area in 2008 while claiming honorable mention all-area honors in 2007.

Dorn played for the Dunes Club Team, participating on the top open team at the 15s, 16s and 17s levels. That team won the JVDA National Silver Division title in both 2008 and 2009. Dorn now plays for Sports Performance (coached by Rick Butler)

Dorn is a talented musician, having won medals for cello performances through Indiana State Solo Music Association.

Prepvolleyball.com says, "A tremendous athlete, Dorn rises to at least 10-6 off the floor. Her explosion vertically is matched by her explosive quickness laterally. That ability makes her a potentially great blocker at the collegiate level. A prototype middle, Dorn may need time to fully develop her offensive game, but her athleticism and willingness to work suggest that the sky may not be the limit for this player."

"Anna Dorn will be the most athletic player in the gym the minute she arrives on campus and has unlimited potential as a player," Hambly said.

• Orozco is ranked No. 33 in the class by prepvolleyball.com. She was named to the Press-Telegram Dream Team and All-California Southern Section the past three seasons. She was also named the Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame Athlete of the Year in both 2008 and 2009. In 2007, Orozco claimed Lakewood High School Athlete of the Year.

Playing for USA Volleyball, she was selected as Best Attacker in 2006 and 2008 and MVP in 2007. She has topped 300 kills each of the past two seasons and tallied a career-best 66 blocks in 2007, when she was named State Championship MVP. Orozco was coached by Mike Wadley at Lakewood High School and Tim Jensen and Chris McGee on the Sports Shack Club Team. She also led SCVC to the 15s Gold Medal.

Orozco plans to major in international business at Illinois.

Prepvolleyball.com says, "A fierce competitor, Orozco is an absolute banger with one of the heaviest and fastest arms in the country and she does it all high above the net. Her best skill may be her blocking, where she is far and away ahead of most girls coming into the college game. Orozco is a consummate team player and a leader on and off the court."

"Jazmine is an extremely athletic outside attacker who can play all six rotations and will fit perfectly into our system," Hambly said.

• Bonilla, ranked No. 60 in the class by prepvolleyball.com, competed as an outside hitter and libero on her high school team, but was the libero for the USA Volleyball Youth National Team in 2008 and 2009 (coached by Jim Stone). Bonilla was named the best libero at the NORCECA Tournament, leading the USA team to the gold medal at the 2008 NORCECA Youth Continental championship. The USA Youth National team placed 12th at the World Championships this summer.

Bonilla has been named first-team all-CIF and all-Sunshine League competing for Marymount High School (coached by Cari Klein), leading the Sailors to the Division IV state title, and joined Orozco on the SCVC team that won the gold medal in the 15 Open Division in 2007.

Bonilla was named one of prepvolleyball.com's "Defensive Dandys" and plans to major in kinesiology at Illinois.

Prepvolleyball.com calls Bonilla, "the best first-ball contact player in this class. Her instincts for the ball are unparalleled; it is almost like she knows where the ball is going before the attacker does. She is blessed with speed and strength that allow her to make the toughest players look easy. Her jump float serve is a major weapon."

"Jennifer Bonilla is the most accomplished libero in the country. She has a tremendous amount of international experience," Hambly said.