CHAMPAIGN — Division I volleyball coaches regularly flock to Morrisville, N.C., during the major recruiting dates on the calendar. For good reason. There’s talent to be had smack dab in the Research Triangle.
Chris Tamas was one of those coaches invested in what Triangle Volleyball Club had to offer in the Class of 2024.
There were clear spots to fill on the Illinois roster, and Tamas made middle blocker Ashlyn Philpot and the versatile Laynie Smith priorities in that class. That investment has already started to pay dividends.
Philpot and Smith have started every match — and played every set — in Illinois’ unbeaten start to the 2024 season. The Illini (6-0) return to action at 1 p.m. Friday against No. 24 Dayton before playing host Western Kentucky at 3 p.m. Saturday in Bowling Green, Ky.
“We’re always going to look for talent,” Tamas said. “It wasn’t like a full package deal. They were recruited at separate times and positions. It’s just one of those things that kind of worked out. It’s great to have them both.”
Tamas got his first look at Philpot and Smith when they attended an Illinois camp. The Illini coach liked what he saw from the North Carolina natives then and continued to be throughout the recruiting process. Smith wound up as an Under Armour All-American after her senior season. Philpot was the No. 44 prospect in the country, per Prep Volleyball.
“They both came to camp three summers ago now and impressed us a lot,” Tamas said. “Just in how they operated. It’s not just what you can do on the court. It’s how you can take direction and implement what we’re asking you to do. We get a glimpse of that when they come to camp.
“We get a glimpse of that when we go to their practices. We spent several days in their gym talking with their coaches. It’s like, ‘Oh, these two are going to get it as much as anyone.’”
Philpot and Smith wound up two of Triangle’s 20 Division I players in the Class of 2024. A competitive environment in that gym in Morrisville that raised everyone’s level of play.
Kiki Horne and Sally Perez now play for former Illinois assistant Alfee Reft at UCLA. Horne, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter, is second on the Bruins in kills. Asia Thigpen is also in the rotation at outside hitter for No. 9 Kentucky, and Avery Scoggins is unbeaten Arizona’s starting setter.
Triangle also has 13 players in the Class of 2025 committed to D-I schools. That includes three headed to the Big Ten in Ryan Hunter (Nebraska), Gabby Nichols (Penn State) and Addie Canady (Maryland). Six more Class of 2026 prospects have also committed to power conference D-I programs.
“Everyone really wanted to prepare for college as best we could,” Philpot said about Triangle’s loaded 2024 class. “We all pushed each other really hard in practice. I think that helped me when I got here. From day one, I knew what I had to do.”
Philpot currently leads Illinois and ranks second in the Big Ten in blocks per set. The 6-4 middle blocker has also proven to be an effective option in what’s turned out to be a more balanced Illini attack.
That’s where Smith fits in. The 6-3 opposite, who also played as an outside hitter and middle blocker during her club career, is second on the Illini in kills behind Raina Terry.
“I guess playing at such a high-level club has really helped the transition not be as brutal as I thought it was going to be,” Smith said. “I thought they were just going to be blocking me left and right and digging every ball I hit, but just learning to do what I’ve been trained and knowing it’s going to work in the game has really been helpful. Taking in everything the coaches have said and learning it’s going to translate on the court has been really exciting and surprising.”
That Philpot and Smith have experienced success at Illinois together has certainly enhanced their first season at the college level together. There was never a guarantee they’d stay teammates post-Triangle, but they both wanted to play in the Big Ten and both found a comfort level with Tamas and the Illini coaching staff.
“Knowing that I had an offer to play here and Ashlyn also was already committed here was a big plus,” Smith said. “She committed really early. It was definitely one of the things I weighed in my decision.”Philpot said it was a moment of “pure joy” when Smith texted her following an official visit to Champaign that she had also committed to Illinois.
“I think it’s good because it’s someone that held me accountable from the very beginning because she knew what I was capable of,” Philpot said about staying teammates with Smith. “And I knew what she was capable of. We kept pushing each other more. Even though it’s a big transition from club to college ball, we knew we could handle it. That encouragement really helped.”
Philpot and Smith share similar sentiments about their respective successes early in their Illinois careers. Philpot said she knew Smith’s versatility would be a difference maker. Smith said she hasn’t been surprised by Philpot’s at times dominant play at middle blocker, which included a double-double last week against Illinois State.
“She was awesome in club,” Smith said. “Watching her kill it in college has made me smile.”
“She’s very open-minded about what is best for the team,” Philpot added. “That’s really amazing. There’s some people that would prefer to be in the position they’re most comfortable with, but she’ll work for whatever she can do best to help the team.”
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Publish date : 2024-09-12 23:00:00
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