Erin Polte, the head coach of the Illinois Valley Community College women’s volleyball team, is now in her fourth season and is quick to point out that despite a 2-8 record, her Eagles team has shown some spark, including a recent rally against Arrowhead Conference rival Sauk Valley that saw the Eagles fight back before eventually dropping a hard-fought three-set match on their home floor.
This year’s roster is composed of seven freshmen and an overall group the coach salutes as being as hard-working as any she’s had. The Eagles have been led by a trio made up of sophomores Emma Lohr Fandel and Hanna Bima and freshman Jenna Lusietto, all of whom have amassed at least 64.5 points on the season.
Polte also likes the cohesiveness her program is quickly becoming known for. All 13 players on the IVCC roster come from high schools little more than a stone’s throw from the cozy campus.
The players seem to truly appreciate the camaraderie, with Bima recently raving about how all the players have been able to bond so quickly.
Such thinking would appear to bode well for Polte’s plan to build one of the area’s most fun-loving but competitive programs.
Polte recently told the News Tribune she is convinced there is more than enough talent in the Illinois Valley area to build the kind of program she envisions. She hopes that when the community sees what she’s built, more recruits will come.
“This gives them an opportunity to save some money and play the sport that they love, if not multiple sports,” she told the News Tribune. “I think we do have a lot to offer.”
The Eagles are back in action on Thursday, Sept. 14, against conference rival Carl Sandburg.
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