Illinois volleyball senior Jacqueline Quade was unanimously selected to the Preseason All-Big Ten team on Monday. Selected by Big Ten Conference coaches, the honor is a first for Illinois’ outside hitter.

Nearly nine months ago, Quade was an unanimous selection to the 2018 All Big-Ten team following her breakout season as a six-rotation player.

Just two weeks after being selected, Quade and the 2018 Illini had their season cut short by Nebraska in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. Despite the final outcome and the loss of star seniors Jordyn Poulter and Ali Bastianelli, Quade’s individual growth continued to stand out.

Quade also received honors from the NCAA, American Volleyball Coaches Association and VolleyballMag.com following her junior year.

While it would be easy to let the many accolades alter her mindset, Quade has remained humble. The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native acknowledges her success and now remains positive about the improvements she still needs to make.

“Despite the year we had, the year I had, there’s still so much more we can do which is really exciting,” Quade said. “It’s cool to be able to come into the gym and be like, ‘Wow, I still need to get so much better at all these different facets of my game.’”

The quality time Quade has spent in the gym has paid off, as she paced the Illini and the Big Ten with 560 total kills, averaging 4.24 per set and a .265 kill hitting percentage. Quade’s talents ranked her sixth in the nation.

Now that Quade is completely comfortable as a six-rotation player and the Illini’s most valuable target, the hitter is ready to assume a larger leadership role as she enters her final season.

Both redshirt freshman Diana Brown and Auburn transfer Mica Allison will make their debuts as Illini setters this season following Jordyn Poulter’s departure. Quade has been focused on helping the two young setters prepare for their time on the court together.

“(I’m) just helping out the younger players, helping them to feel comfortable on the court,” Quade said. “We have two new setters, so as a hitter, just letting them know that, ‘Yeah, it’s never going to be perfect, but I can help you guys out.’ If they’re having a tough time, just being there to help them with that.”

Brown saw game action with Quade in the Orange and Blue scrimmage Saturday, but Allison sat out with an injury.

Redshirt freshman and outside Bruna Vrankovic has also been learning from Quade after spending a year only practicing. Vrankovic showed her power and talent at the scrimmage but also proved she is a raw talent after initially struggling.

While the Illini are still working through some kinks after playing in the scrimmage, Quade believes the team just needs more time to mesh together and learn each other’s playing styles.

“Overall, just connections and chemistry, just working together as a team and just getting comfortable being on the court together,” Quade said.

Quade and the Illini will have to work quickly to find that flow as their regular season begins Friday at Tennessee. The Illini will then face Tennessee again at Huff Hall on Sunday.

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