Despite a one-year difference in age, Jocelynn Birks and Alexis Viliunas have been playing volleyball together for nearly 10 years.

The Illinois volleyball players’ history dates back to before high school, even if they barely knew each other at the time.

The two were on the same 12-and-under club team. Birks, now a redshirt junior outside hitter, was 12 while the junior setter Viliunas played up a year as an 11-year-old.

“I knew who she was, obviously,” Viliunas added. “But we didn’t really have any bond when we were 12.”

Including their play on the same club team, 1st Alliance, both attended Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Ill. Both were moved up to varsity at the same time — Viliunas as a freshman, Birks as a sophomore.

The two experienced success at Lyons, reaching the state finals in 2009 before winning a rematch in the state title game against Cary Grove a year later.

“It was insane, it was a lot of fun,” Birks said. “Redemption, definitely.”

Viliunas set a Lyons record with 2,202 career assists as a setter and right-side hitter, while Birks ranks second all-time with 467 kills in a single season.

In the midst of playing at Lyons, both were heavily recruited by Big Ten programs, including Northwestern, Ohio State and Michigan State. 

They took a few visits together at Illinois and ultimately, Birks was first to give a verbal commitment to the Illini.

“We were here on a couple visits together,” Birks said. “I know after I committed and we were still hanging out, I’d always say, ‘So, Lex are you going to commit?’ because I wanted her to be here.”

Birks didn’t have to pester Viliunas for long. The setter followed suit and committed a week later.

“Once Illinois reached out to me, it was a no-brainer,” Viliunas said.

Birks was the No. 26 player in the country as a senior, according to PrepVolleyball.com, as a part of an Illini recruiting class that ranked No. 3 nationally. Viliunas was ranked No. 34 a year later and made up half of the 2012 class along with middle blocker Maddie Mayers.

In her only season without Viliunas in an eight-year span, Birks redshirted her freshman year in 2011 because the Illini already had two All-Americans on the outside.  

“I had to wait around for her,” Birks joked.

Since then, Birks has led the Illini in kills and attempts each of her three seasons, including garnering third-team All-American and All-Big Ten honors last season.

Viliunas thought she might redshirt as a freshman also, but saw the court for seven matches as a freshman. Last year, she started all 33 matches at setter and is one of the two setters used this year in the Illini’s 6-2 offense.

The two have used their familiarity with each other to their advantage on the court. Having been together for nearly their entire volleyball careers, they complement each other well.

“We each know how each other plays and what each other needs to be our best,” Viliunas said. “Me and Joce are pretty calm out there and we like to smile and laugh. I think that helps the team in tight situations, knowing that we’re pretty calm and relaxed.”

With Birks redshirting her freshman year in

Champaign, the duo will be able to graduate together. As has been the norm for nearly 10 years, Birks

had to wait for the younger Viliunas to catch up. Although Viliunas has seen that as

the plan all along.

“I think that was the thought when I came in here, that we would graduate together,” Viliunas said.

Stephen can be reached at sbourbo2@dailyillini.com and @steve_bourbon.