At the end of the 2022 volleyball season, three players on the Judah varsity volleyball team were named members of the ECIC all-conference team: junior setter Klementine Davis, junior outside hitter Hannah Jackson, and sophomore libero Brelyn Riesberg.
What does it mean to be named to the all-conference team? Each season, the head coaches of the eight East Central Illinois Conference teams vote for who they believe are the most valuable players on each opposing team. If a player gets enough votes, they join the all-conference team, like Klementine, Hannah, and Brelyn. Here are these three Judah stars’ key stats from this season as well as their answers to seven questions about their dedication to and love for volleyball.
— Ava Carder, class of '24
Klementine Davis
✫ Sets Played 64
✫ Aces 39
✫ Digs 177
✫ Kills 66
✫ Assists 456
✫ Assists Per Set 7.1
➢ How long have you played volleyball?
Since fifth grade at Judah. I started playing club volleyball that same year.
➢ What is your favorite part of playing the game?
I enjoy running the offense, and I love competing!
➢ How do you prepare for a game? What gets you in the zone?
I never eat right before a game. Instead, I scout the opposing team and give myself a pep talk. I try to go in with a positive mindset and envision myself playing well. Right before the game starts, I say a short prayer and take a deep breath.
➢ What is your favorite volleyball memory?
Playing at the Blue Ridge Invitational tournament and beating Blue Ridge. I also loved making the all-tournament team this year.
➢ Who inspired you to play volleyball? Who are your role models?
My role model is definitely Jordyn Poulter. She is my favorite setter. I loved watching her play for Illinois and at the Olympics. I’ve always aspired to be like her.
➢ When do you believe you have played your best?
I think I play my best in games when I put my hitters in good positions to score and when I’ve played good defense, giving it 100 percent.
➢ What do you think makes Judah volleyball different?
The team chemistry we have is really strong. We all get along, and we can have fun on and off the court together. We also have great coaches who are very positive.
Hannah Jackson
✫ Sets Played 64
✫ Aces 48
✫ Digs 166
✫ Kills 250
✫ Kills Per Set 3.9
➢ How long have you played volleyball?
Since fifth grade here at Judah. I used to practice just hitting a volleyball around with my older sister for a while before that, but it wasn’t technically playing.
➢ What is your favorite part of playing the game?
I like the feeling of it all. It’s really satisfying to me when something plays out perfectly. Like the way the ball hits your arms in the right spot, or if you get that good hand contact. I also love seeing the look on everyone’s faces when we do something well.
➢ How do you prepare for a game? What gets you in the zone?
I have to take a lot of deep breaths. I make sure I have plenty of water and check that I have all my gear. I also make sure to stretch before games. I mostly just talk with my friends because they help me relax. They help me get in the right mindset to play.
➢ What is your favorite volleyball memory?
My favorite memory was when we beat Arthur Christian in my sophomore year. It was super fun. There were a ton of people there, and the energy was great.
➢ Who inspired you to play volleyball? Who are your role models?
I started playing because my sister started playing, and it helped us spend time together. I am an active person, so it was really fun for me. I’m also competitive, so I got way more into it than she did. A role model for me would be our coach, Caesar. I admire the way he handles situations, as well as how he teaches us and pushes us to be better.
➢ When do you believe you have played your best?
When we played Arcola. I think I played really well, because that was a game where I was actually slamming the ball. I was actually hitting, and I got a lot of kills that night.
➢ What do you think makes Judah volleyball different?
We don’t argue as much as other teams. It’s way easier to get along with other girls and play together when there’s not as much drama. We’re more connected. All of us, not separate varsity and JV. The whole team is connected.
Brelyn Riesberg
✫ Sets Played 64
✫ Aces 38
✫ Digs 267
✫ Kills 5
✫ Digs Per Set 4.2
➢ How long have you played volleyball?
I have played for six years.
➢ What is your favorite part of playing the game?
I love playing really well against a good team and having good competition. I like being better than other teams. But a good game against a tough team is always lots of fun.
➢ How do you prepare for a game? What gets you in the zone?
I don’t do anything to get pumped up. I just go, because I’m always ready to play and just can’t wait!
➢ What is your favorite volleyball memory?
Beating Blue Ridge this past season.
➢ Who inspired you to play volleyball? Who are your role models?
At first I didn’t want to play, but my mom signed me up anyway. I guess I ended up liking it a lot. My role models are basically any liberos who are better than me. It pushes me to try harder, so I can be just as good or even better than them.
➢ When do you believe you have played your best?
I believe I played my best in the very last game of the 2022 season against St. Thomas More. I was very proud of how I performed.
➢ What do you think makes Judah volleyball different?
I believe the relationships are what makes it different. We are close to the coaches, and the teammates always know how to have fun with each other.