LEBANON, Ill. – Women's volleyball head coach Miranda Rodriguez, entering her second year at the helm will be welcoming 12 newcomers into the Bearcat family. The class is composed of nine incoming freshman and three transfers.
The three transfers include a graduate student Outside Hitter from Division I Eastern Kentucky University in Emily – Kate (EK) Lonergan. The 5'8" Leawood, Kansas native brings three years of beach volleyball experience to the hardwood. Before EKU, she began her collegiate career at Division II Missouri Southern State in 2021.
Next is a transfer Libero/DS from Wabash Valley College with Grace Lenard. The Hamilton County, Illinois native recorded 724 digs during her two years with the Warriors. During her high school career, she earned distinguished high honors and three-time all-tournament.
The last transfer joining the Bearcat family is Brielle Crose from Hoopeston, Illinois by way of Lake Land College. In high school with the Cornjerkers, she joined the 1,000 digs club and was in the honor roll for six semesters. During her junior college career with the Lakers, the Libero/DS recorded 81 service aces and 544 digs.
Along with the transfers are nine freshmen coming to Lebanon. The first freshman we introduce is Avery Wuebbels from Albers, Illinois. The Mater Dei Catholic alum is an opposite hitter, planning to major in accounting and finance. Helping the Knights to back-to-back IHSA Class 2A state championship, Wuebbels was honored with a spot on the IHSA State Finals All-Tournament team in 2024.
A second metro-east native from O'Fallon Township High School is staying home in Gabby Behling. The O'Fallon alumna was named the offensive MVP and named First-Team All-Southwestern Conference. The Middle and Right-Side hitter helped her Panthers to an IHSA Sectional Finals appearance in 2024. She is planning to major in Physical Education.
A Southwestern Conference rival of Behling, now becomes her teammate in a DS/Libero Corinne Leech from Belleville West High School. Leech was named the team captain during her senior year with the Maroons. She was also named Second-Team All-Southwestern Conference. Along with being an athlete, she was named Scholar-Athlete all four years and Academic All-Conference her junior and senior year.
The fourth metro-east native coming to the purple and gold this fall is Brooke Heimburger from Belleville, Illinois and Nerinx Hall High School. The Outside Hitter was named All-Conference twice during her high school career. Heimburger was also named Academic All-Conference.
Coach Rodriguez is bringing over a Middle Blocker from Kansas City, Missouri by the way of Liberty High School. Megan Bishton helped her squad place third at state in 2024. Among her many accolades, Bishton was named All-Conference and All-District in 2023 and 2024. The KC native was recognized on a national scale with being named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Best of Brightest list in 2024.
Next, we have Maddy Clarke from St. Peters, Missouri by way of Fort Zumwalt South High School. The Pin Hitter was a two-time member of the All-Conference Second teams in 2022 and 2023. After a stellar senior year, Clarke was named to First-Team All-Conference in 2024. On top of being an all-conference member, the FZS alumna was a three-time member of the All-District squad.
Bringing some versatility to the Bearcats, Gabby Horn has the ability to play three positions in setter, right-side and outside hitter. The Jefferson City, Missouri native from volleyball powerhouse Blair Oaks High School. During her career, she was a two-time state champion, named to the all-state team. Horn was also named First-Team All-Conference and First-Team All-District.
The eighth incoming freshman joining the McKendree family is Peyton Uptgraft from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Uptgraft has made her way into the Oak Ridge High School record books as she sits in the top three in career assists in school history with 2,024. All four years of her high school career, she was awarded a major district award. It started with her freshman year when she was named District Setter of the Year. Her sophomore and junior years, the setter was named the MVP in her district. She rounded out her high school career with being named the District Setter of the Year.
Last, but not least, Bianca Galaviz from Romeoville, Illinois will be making the trek down I-55 for her collegiate career. The Libero/Defensive Specialist played high school volleyball at Joliet Catholic Academy. Galaviz brings winning mentality with three national champion titles and an All-Tournament team recognition.
Coach Miranda Rodriguez has high hopes and is excited about this incoming class, "I am incredibly excited to welcome our incoming class to McKendree Volleyball. This group of 12 brings a high level of talent, competitive drive, and commitment that will elevate the standard in our gym. Each of them has competed at a high level and understands what it takes to be successful, not just as volleyball players but as student-athletes. They represent the type of character, work ethic, and potential we want in our program, and we are confident they will help shape the future of our program in a very positive way."
