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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.”

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It’s all about the team for Olivia Sorensen.

Team is why Heritage High School’s senior setter fell in love with volleyball in sixth grade.

At the age of 12, Sorensen stepped onto the court for Heritage Junior High and the Prime Time Volleyball Club.

“You get to interact with new people and its a team sport,” Sorensen said. “Teamwork is a big part in volleyball, it creates how a team plays and how they bond with each other.”

Now in her last prep season, Sorensen is part of a strong Hawks team that has won 24 matches, including three championship trophies, one of which was from the inaugural Lincoln Prairie Conference Tournament.

Sorensen said that the group’s success isn’t just luck, though. As the captain of the 2019 squad, Sorensen said that her teammates have been focused since summer.

The Hawks came into the season with two new coaches, head coach Kourtney Bradd and Alex Hudson.

“It was a big change for most girls at the beginning of the year because they had been used to the old coach but this year we have gained two new very good coaches,” she said. “We have switched around some of our players and since we have done that, we’ve improved greatly.”

Joining the newly formed 15-member Lincoln Prairie Conference was also on the players’ minds as they prepared for the season.

“This new conference was filled with multiple talented teams but we have proved we are just as good,” she said.

Defeating Tri-County 25-20, 25-17, a team Heritage has not beaten in 14 years, was also a highlight of the season.

Sorensen said that her role as the setter and the team captain is to lead the team and make sure that she is a role model for her teammates.

“I want to be a leader that someone looks up to and admires,” she said. “I have always encouraged my team to never give up and always keep pushing, I never let them get down about themselves and always tell them to keep their heads up.”

Focusing on hard work in practice and in games is what has sustained the Hawks’ success this season.

“There is so much talent on the team,” she said. “This team has such strong relationships and bonds with each other that it only brings us closer and makes us better as a whole.”

With four regular-season matches remaining, the Hawks have their sights set on winning their regional tournament.

The No. 1 seeded Hawks will kick-off tournament play at 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 against the winner of an Oct. 28 match between No. 7 Windsor Coop and No. 9 Decatur Lutheran.

“We have made it to the regional championship multiple times, but this year we want to win it,” Sorensen said. “We’ve come so far we can’t quit now, but we would definitely like to go farther than regionals.”

The Hawks will be seeking their first regional championship in volleyball since 2013.

Sorensen knows the time she has with this team is now limited.

“I have learned to enjoy it while I can because you will never get to play with the same team again,” she said.

There are a few other life lessons she will take with her after she steps off the court.

“I have learned how to stay tough through difficult times and to always have a positive attitude about everything,” she said. “Even though I may not want to do something I need to push my way through it to keep getting better.”

The Hawks host Decatur-Lutheran tonight, then Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond on Thursday before traveling to Judah Christian and Villa Grove on the 21st and 22nd, respectively.

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Heritage Volleyball

Bri Struck and Bree Buck were the catalysts on Thursday as Heritage dispatched visiting Cerro Gordo 25-16, 27-25 in a Lincoln Prairie Conference match.

Struck piled up seven kills, six digs and five aces. Buck’s stat line included six kills, four digs and three blocks.

Olivia Sorensen handed out 14 assists. Anna Sanders contributed seven digs and Malani Smithenry finished with four digs.

Heritage (11-3 overall, 3-1 conference) plays at Chrisman tonight.

Villa Grove Volleyball

Madison Burwell delivered six kills and teammate Kyleigh Block had three kills and three aces on Thursday as the Blue Devils (7-6) topped visiting Sangamon Valley 25-14, 26-24.

VGH Football

Blake Smith accounted for five touchdowns on Friday – three on passes and two on quarterback runs – as Villa Grove/Heritage reached the .500 mark with a 54-14 win over Sangamon Valley in Niantic.

VG/H (2-2) led 27-6 after the first quarter and 40-6 at halftime.

Shirley opened the scoring with a 1-yard TD scamper.

He completed 4 of 4 passes for 73 yards and hooked up with Carson Howard twice for TDs, covering 24 and 32 yards. Lerik Sorenson also had a 15-yard TD reception.

Kehm Shirley, who rushed for a team-high 106 yards, scored one TD.  As a team, VG/H rolled up 310 yards o the ground.

Ezra Ely scored one TD and converted six extra-point placements. The Blue Devils’ other TD was by Luke Zimmerman on a 31-yard run.

Villa Grove/Heritage returns to action at home on Friday against Cerro Gordo/Bement (2-2)

VGH Golf

Zach Buesing shot a 39 on Thursday at Tri-City Country Club to lead the Blue Devils in a three-school meet. VG/H did not have enough players to post a team score.

VGH Boys’ cross-country

The Blue Devils placed 19th in Saturday’s 42nd Tuscola Invitational at Wimple Park.

The team-leader, with a 3-mile time of 18:52.88, was freshman Rowan Denmark-Collins.

All five of the VG/H participants are freshmen or sophomores.

Teammates following Denmark-Collins were sophomore Kylee Witte (129th in 22:04.37), sophomore Kaleb Miller (144th in 23:45.5), freshman Fletcher Hannah (158th in 26:17.88) and sophomore Konner Pearman (160th in 26:28.04).

Meet champion Urbana Uni High had a team s core of 26. VG/H’s point total was 497.

The team returns to action on Tuesday against Urbana Uni High at the UI Arboretum.

VGH Girls’ cross-country

Kyleigh Price was the Villa Grove/Heritage leader in Saturday’s 42nd-annual Tuscola Invitational at Wimple Park.

Her 3-mile time was 24 minutes, 31.95 seconds.

Other top teammates were Emma Buesing (80th in 24:41.01), Madison Logan (106th in 27:21.80) and Kate Eisenmenger (114th in 29:07.47).

Price, Buesing and Logan are all freshmen. Eisenmenger is a junior.

The Blue Devils did not have enough runners to be scored as a team. The meet champion was Unity with 32 points.

VG/H returns to action on Tuesday at the UI Arboretum against Urbana Uni High.

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Heritage Volleyball

The Hawks won their 10th match in their last 11 outings on Thursday, sweeping DeLand-Weldon on the Eagles’ court, 25-18, 25-23.

Olivia Sorensen had 24 assists and two aces.

Bri Struck pounded 14 kills and added seven digs. Anna Sanders had seven digs. Teammate Malani Smithhenry had matching totals for kills and digs with six apiece.

Heritage (10-2) returns to action on Tuesday at home against Okaw Valley.

Villa Grove/Heritage Football

Blake Smith’s touchdown pass to Lerik Sorenson in the final minute of the first half on Friday accounted for the only points for Villa Grove/Heritage in a 41-6 loss to state-ranked Arcola in Villa Grove.

Smith completed 8 of 17 passes for 90 yards. Kehm Shirley had three receptions. Sorenson caught two passes as did Carson Howard.  Shirley rushed for a team-high 65 yards on 11 carries.

Sorenson had 90 yards on kickoff returns.

Arcola is ranked eight in Class 1A.

VG/H (1-2) returns to action on Friday at Sangamon Valley.

Heritage Golf

Zach Buesing finished in fourth place, two strokes behind the medalist in Saturday’s Blue Ridge Invitational at Woodlawn Country Club.

Buesing fired an 80 for VG/Heritage, which didn’t have enough competitors to be scored as a team.

Villa Grove Volleyball

The Blue Devils (6-4) completed a comeback on Thursday and handed Okaw Valley a 16-25, 25-14, 25-21 loss.

Jordyn Ray led the way with three kills and three aces for VG, which is unbeaten in Lincoln Prairie Conference matches.

The win snapped a three-match losing streak.

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Olivia Sorensen had 11 assists and five service aces on Tuesday as the Hawks swept an opponent for the sixth time, handling Arcola 25-13, 25-21 on the Purple Riders’ court.

Heritage is 2-0 in Lincoln Prairie Conference action.

Bri Struck produced six kills and five digs while Hawks’ teammate Malani Smithenry led with six digs.

Bree Buck dropped in four ace serves. Anna Sanders chipped in with five digs.

Heritage returns to action tonight at DeLand-Weldon.

Villa Grove Volleyball

Reagan Cheely distributed 11 assists and Madie Burwell pounded eight kills on Monday, but Villa Grove lost to Chrisman 25-18, 20-25, 28-26.

The Blue Devils are 5-4 overall.

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Heritage High School volleyball evened their season record (1-1) with a two-set sweep at Salt Fork on Thursday, 25-22, 25-23.

Olivia Sorensen handed out 17 assists. Bri Struck (seven kills) and Aliya Holloman (five kills) were the offensive catalysts. Struck and Anna Sanders each collected six digs.

Holloman served two aces and totaled two blocks. Bree Buck also had two blocks.

Heritage will return to action on Tuesday at Oakwood.

Villa Grove/Heritage Football

The Blue Devils suffered a 55-14 first-game loss at state-ranked Tuscola on Friday. Tuscola was tied for second in the first Class 1A state poll.

Kehm Shirley was the top VG/H ground-gainer, rushing for 106 yards on 15 carries. As a team, the Blue Devils had 181 yards rushing on 38 attempts.

Shirley scored one touchdown. Logan Nohren scored the second TD on a 3-yard pass from Blake Smith.

Smith was 5 for 15 passing for 60 yards. Carson Howard hauled in two of the receptions, totaling 24 yards.

The other VG/H points were on two conversion kicks by Zayzen Price.

Tuscola built a 34-0 lead before Shirley scored on a 10-yard run.

The Blue Devils return to action on Friday at home against Tri-County (0-1).

Girls’ cross-country

Villa Grove/Heritage finished 14th as a team in Saturday’s Saber Corn Classic, at St. Thomas More.

Teammates Kyleigh Price and Emma Buesing finished next to each other. Price was 57th with a 3-mile time of 24 minutes, 3.9 seconds. Buesing was 58th in 24:13.8.

Other team leaders were Kate Eisenmenger (74th in 27:14.3), Allison Kneer (75th in 27:18.1), Madison Logan (78th in 27:32.8) and Regan Blanton (84th in 30:12.5).

The team returns to action in Saturday’s Cowchip Classic, at Chrisman.

Boys’ cross-country

The Blue Devils didn’t have enough runners to be scored as a team, but had four individuals compete in Saturday’s Saber Corn Classic, at St. Thomas More.

Rowan Denmark-Collins was the VG/H leader with a 3-mile time of 19 minutes, 38.8 seconds.

The team’s other competitors were Kaleb Miller (104th in 23:10.1), Kylee Witte (109th in 24:01.6) and Fletcher Hannah (111th in 4:21.9).

VG/H is back in action on Saturday in Chrisman’s Cowchip Classic.

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