Herrin High School senior Abby Horn signed a letter of intent Thursday to play volleyball on scholarship at John A. Logan College next fall. The three-sport standout is expected to play either the middle or outside-hitting position on the front row for the Vols. (Logan Media Services photo)

BY JOHN D. HOMAN

Logan Media Services

HERRIN – One of the premier female prep athletes in Southern Illinois accepted a scholarship offer Thursday to play volleyball at John A. Logan College next fall.

Herrin High School senior standout Abby Horn is a multi-year All-Conference and All-South spiker and was a key component of the Tigers’ regional championship team in 2011. She has mostly played middle hitter for Herrin, but can also play the outside or rightside hitter’s positions. Horn is a skilled passer from the back row, as well, making her an all-around talent.

The signing was music to the ears of Vols head coach Bill Burnside.

“We’re real excited. I think Abby is a heck of a volleyball player, will get even better the next two years, and is going to have a big impact on our program,” he said. “She’s very good defensively, blocking in the front row, and even better offensively as a hitter. She can help us a number of different ways.”

Burnside said that once Horn locks in on one sport, there’s no telling just how good she can be.

“I think that Abby is one who will focus on becoming the best player she can be. If she progresses as I think she will, she can be an impact player with a four-year school when she leaves Logan.”

Burnside said this year’s senior class is exceptionally talented throughout the region.

“I’m glad to say we have quite a few of these local kids signed,” he said. “I think it’s going to be nice to represent this area the way we will be able to next fall. It will make winning matches that much more enjoyable.”

Many of the Logan players already know one another.

“They’ve played quite a bit of volleyball together at the SIU club, so I think they can build on that experience here at Logan,” he said.

Also a talented basketball player and track athlete, Horn said she is ready to specialize in one sport.

“It’s been a long time coming to just focus in on one sport and then have time to recover after the season is over,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong. Playing the other sports has been fun. I wouldn’t trade those experiences for the world, but it’s kind of exciting not knowing exactly what my potential could be when I compete in volleyball only. By getting to work with college coaches every day, I’m excited to see how far that instruction takes me.”

Horn said choosing Logan was made easier by the fact that she had already played for Vols assistant coach Jimmy White at the club level and has competed with and against so many other current and future Logan players.

That list includes current JALC freshmen Kasey Krough and Ryley Miller of Carbondale and Alyssa Sturgeon of Murphysboro, as well as incoming freshmen, Audrey Vaughn and Jessica Stanton of Murphysboro, Alison Webb of Goreville and Erin Dodd of Marion.

“I’m looking forward to having these girls as teammates,” Horn said. “It’s going to be fun going to school together and rooming together. I just hope that we can help make the team even more successful than it already is.”

Herrin head coach Irv Lukens had high praise for his prize pupil.

“I’m very happy for Abby,” he said. “It’s always pleasing to see one of your players move forward to the next level and I think she can be a good one for Logan. She handles herself well around the net, can spike the ball very well and is a good blocker – a real force.”

By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind.— The Southern Illinois women’s basketball team couldn’t keep Indiana State off the glass in a 72-57 loss to the Sycamores Thursday night at the Hulman Center.

ISU (11-5, 3-2 MVC) scored 20 second-chance points off 23 offensive rebounds as the Salukis (4-11, 1-3) dropped their second consecutive Missouri Valley Conference road game.

SIU played solid defense throughout the game, holding the Sycamores to 38.7 percent shooting from the field, but couldn’t capitalize on the glass.

“I’m just really discouraged that we can not get defensive rebounds right now,” said SIU head coach Missy Tiber. “We guarded pretty well. We just didn’t go pursue the basketball when they missed shots.”

SIU freshman forward Jameeka Bouie.

The Saluki defense was especially effective through the first 11 minutes of the game. Southern’s 2-3 zone gave ISU problems early, resulting in transition opportunities for sophomore Cartaesha Macklin.

Macklin scored SIU’s first eight points of the game, helping the Salukis to a 13-10 lead at the 12-minute mark before eventually taking its biggest lead of the game at 20-16 on a 3-pointer by junior Jordyn Courierat the 9:15 mark.

Southern’s rebounding struggles began shortly thereafter as the Sycamores dominated the final nine minutes of the half. ISU closed the first half on a 23-5 run to take a 39-25 lead into the break. The Sycamores out-rebounded SIU 27-12 in the first half with 16 offensive rebounds in the opening frame.

SIU also fell into foul trouble in the first half as Courier and Azia Washington both picked up three fouls andAlexus Patterson had two. The Sycamores shot 16 first-half free throws to SIU’s three.

“We didn’t allow them to get a lot of easy shots in the first 12 minutes of the first half. They were missing shots. We just were not getting the rebound,” Tiber said. “We had some transition opportunities that we just didn’t convert on. Plays like that could maybe change the game for us.”

SIU couldn’t make any headway out of the break as ISU pushed the lead as high as 24 ad the midway point of the second half. The Salukis found their way to the free throw line more, but shot just 52.9 percent (9-for-17) for the game. SIU also struggled against ISU’s ball-hawking defense as the Sycamores scored 20 points of 19 Saluki turnovers.

“Nineteen turnovers is too many. They were crazy turnovers too,” Tiber said. “We were throwing the ball all over the place and I’m not sure why.”

SIU ended the game on an 11-4 run, but the effort was too little, too late. Macklin finished with a game-high 17 points to go along with five assists while Jameeka Bouie added 12 points and Courier added nine. Dyana Pierre and Washington each had eight boards for the Salukis.

“We’re not getting enough out of our guards on the defensive end. They are not rebounding, they are not guarding,” Tiber said. “Our bigs can’t do it all.”

SIU ends a three-game MVC road swing Saturday at Illinois State. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. CST in a game that will be televised regionally on Comcast SportsNet Chicago