Sorensen’s dream to play volleyball at the collegiate level becomes a reality
By FRED KRONER
Olivia Sorensen started with a dream that transitioned into a goal.
Now, it’s a reality.
The Heritage High School senior setter will have the chance to play collegiate volleyball after signing a national letter of intent with Illinois College, in Jacksonville, last week.
Sorensen’s interest in volleyball began a decade ago when she accompanied her sister (Emilee) to practice and started hanging around the gym herself.
“Volleyball really came naturally to me,” Sorensen said. “Growing up with my sister playing, I learned from watching her and her teaching me.”
By the time Olivia Sorensen was in junior high, she was part of teams that qualified for the IESA state tournament and brought home trophies for second-, third- and fourth-place.
“Playing in college became a goal for me when I was a freshman,” Sorensen said. “Growing up, it was my dream more than my goal.
“When starting high school, I realized it was time to start my journey.”
She was already on the path to that destination, however. Sorensen has played for the Champaign-based Prime Time club volleyball team for eight years.
“Prime Time has helped me in so many ways,” Sorensen said. “Cliff Hastings (club director) is always looking out for improvement for every player.
“Prime Time coaches are always giving back positive and useful feedback to all the players to help in any way they can. They don’t spend their time working with one player. All players are treated equal. They helped me learn everything I know about volleyball.”
Besides assisting with her skillset, the club program enhanced Sorensen’s desire. For that, she can thank the positive influences who have been in her life.
“Some people who were instrumental in my development were Vic White, Mike Trame, and Cliff Hastings,” Sorensen said. “All of these men were positive role models that I looked up to.
“They always supported me along the way, no matter what and helped me even when I needed it most.”
The various coaches emphasized values of importance that continue to be a benefit for Sorensen.
“They encouraged me to work hard and to follow my dreams,” she said. “They pushed me to do my best and to never give up.
“They pushed me to keep my head up and to work hard every day because there is always room for improvement.”
As a junior at Heritage, Sorensen broke the school’s single-match record for assists with 38. She also handed out 683 assists for the season, the second-best total in the East-Central Illinois area.
She earned all-conference and second-team All-Area accolades. As a senior, she was the catalyst for a 27-6 team, ending fourth in the area in assists with 715 and finishing among the leaders in service aces. She was also selected to play in the Area All-Star game, hosted by Parkland College.
“What makes me want to play volleyball is that it is fun, you meet so many new people, it is played at all ages, and it teaches many skills and lessons,” Sorensen said. “I love all of the coaches who have taught me not only volleyball but also life skills as well.”
For a brief period of time though, Sorensen let uncertainty creep into her thought process.
“My senior year I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep playing volleyball after many obstacles and challenges I had faced,” she said. “I encountered some new situations that really made me rethink wanting to go and play college volleyball.
“At many times I thought I was just going to quit because I started to not like the game anymore. They were more internal challenges or me being told I wasn’t good enough to keep playing and was told I don’t deserve to go anywhere.”
Eventually, she erased the doubts and decided to move full-speed ahead with the dream she’d held for years.
“I overcame these problems and decided to keep playing,” Sorensen said. “After finishing my high school career, I decided I didn’t want to give up the game I love.”
It was during the 2018 high school season at Heritage that Sorensen truly believed her college quest would be possible.
“It felt realistic my junior year when I had multiple college coaches contacting me about playing,” she said. “Also, when I attended Nationals (with Prime Time) and I was talked to by coaches there as well.”
At Illinois College, an NCAA Division III school with about 1,100 students, Sorensen will join a volleyball program under the direction of Kristy Duncan, a former head coach at Unity High School. Duncan will be entering her seventh year at IC in the fall.
Before making her final decision, Sorensen also considered Bradley University, Carroll University and DePauw University.
“What made me pick Illinois College was the campus, the coach, and the team,” she said. “The campus is very welcoming and friendly, yet small.
“Growing up in a small community made me want to stay small. I also loved Coach Duncan and all the players as well.”
Sorenson plans on majoring in elementary education and sees herself as a future kindergarten teacher – at “a small school,” she said – and coaching volleyball.
At 5-foot-4, Sorensen’s position on the volleyball court has been unchanged since she started in the sport.
“Ever since I started volleyball, I have been a setter,” she said. “What I like about setting is being able to take control of the team and be a leader.
“Setters set the tempo of the game because they tell the team what to run and are always pushing them to be better.”
That fits right in with her personality and is why she expects to make a smooth transition into college.
“I think I will fit into Illinois College because I am very outgoing and talkative,” Sorensen said. “I am very good at making new friends.
“I also know multiple people from around me who are going to Illinois College that I know I can count on if I need them.”
Though her name was the one on the dotted line when it was time to sign the letter of intent, Sorensen said she wouldn’t have been in that position without the help of others.
“I want to say thank you to my family, friends, teammates and coaches for supporting me and pushing me to achieve my dream and goals to play the sport that I love the most,” she said. “This truly has become a dream come true.”
