Crystal Lake South Grad to Show Skills on ESPN2

It was a camp held at  that made Erin Johnson fall in love with the sport of volleyball. She loved the team aspect, the competitiveness and the sense of accomplishment when things went well for her team on the court.

She just may fall in love all over again this weekend.

Johnson, a  native and 2009 graduate, will be the starting middle blocker for the University of Illinois women's volleyball team as they head to San Antonio, TX this weekend for the school's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Women's Final Four Volleyball Championships. The Illini, currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, will be matched up against No. 7 USC in Thursday night's semifinal, which will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 9 p.m.

"It was always something the program was striving for," Johnson said of the team's national championship chances. "Since I started considering going to Illinois, the coaches were looking for this type of success. That's where the school has wanted to be and that's what the goal has been. 

"But it was something we didn't want to just talk about but we wanted to make it happen and we are getting to do that."

The 6-foot-3 junior had 16 kills and two blocks in last weekend's 3-1 win over Florida in the regional final. The Illini also picked up wins over Central Michigan, Marquette and Ohio State along the way, with Johnson amounting 18 kills in the three earlier wins.

Her success on the floor hasn't come as a shock to Illinois coach Kevin Hambly. In just his third season, he has watched Johnson grow from recruit to starter to leader. Hambly saw something in her as a 15-year-old Junior Olympian that made her a perfect fit for the Illini's scheme.

"She's an outstanding blocker. She does a great job of reading the plays as they are developing and is an excellent example for some of our players on how to block," Hambly said. "She understands how to play the middle blocking position, especially the blocking portion of it. 

"I thought she was completely underrated as a player out of high school, whatever rankings there are. You didn't hear much buzz about her and we had players rated a lot higher recruiting-wise but she was my favorite player in that class."

Hambly thought so much of the young prospect she was told as a freshman before she arrived on campus that a career-ending injury opened up a spot in the starting lineup. Johnson didn't just secure the job as a freshman, she excelled, being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman squad and ended up starting every match of the season. 

"She picked up our system as fast as any player we've had in our program and it's a hard system to play," Hambly says. "It was much different than what she'd done, and it takes some kids years to settle in and she picked it up in a month."

In her sophomore year, she not only continued athletic success, she added an Academic All Big Ten selection. The kinesiology major has her eyes on medical school and takes her work in the classroom as seriously as her volleyball.

"I think it comes from high school because I'm always had a pretty good work ethic and wanted good grades and always worked hard to be good in school and volleyball," Johnson said.

She was a member of the Crystal Lake South squad that reached the Elite Eight in her senior year, while also being named to the school's high honor roll. She also knows she's not in high school anymore and has stepped her game up as the challenges get tougher.

"I loved playing with my team at South and it was a lot of fun, but I'm not sure if high school volleyball can prepare you for Big Ten volleyball. I don't even think that club volleyball either. I wouldn't say I was prepared but it was something that you have to adapt to very quickly."

According to Hambly, Johnson has developed into one of the top players on the team and an incredible asset for her position.

"She is just a great all-around player," Hambly says. "A lot of middle blockers give up points because they have certain things they can't do but Erin really can play the game of volleyball. She can set and she can pass. It's nice to have a player like that on the floor."

She enjoys the chance to be playing for an elite program like Illinois (31-4) while being able to be close to home. It's a three-hour drive to Champaign for her parents Peter and Marny, who Erin says don't miss many games.

This weekend she'll get the chance to add to her impressive resume with hopes of another achievement — a national champion. A win on Thursday night would put the Illini into the NCAA championship game, also on ESPN2, at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.