Dan Eyrich, AP Sports; Photos courtesy Nicole Olinger
Prophetstown High School senior and EP multi-sport athlete Kennedy Buck recently signed a letter of intent to play volleyball and basketball for Rock Valley College in Rockford. The community college has an unprecedented history of national championships in multiple sports at the Division III level in the National Junior College Athletic Association. This year they have switched to Division II level, which will up the level of competition for the school.
Buck has been a varsity level athlete for the past four years in volleyball and track and three years in basketball. In her career she has won multiple accolades including several All-Conference Awards. She received an All-State Honorable Mention Award from the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Assoc. in 2023.
Buck started her volleyball career in fourth grade playing for the Orange Crush Volleyball Club in Prophetstown. She has played both school and club ball since then, saying it has always been her favorite sport.
Her journey to the college level volleyball has been in the works for a few years, but she was surprised that most the schools that initially contacted her wanted her as a track athlete. It really isn’t surprising since the senior will be heading to IHSA state track finals next week having qualified for the fourth year in a row in the shot put. She also has had great success in the open 400m and in several relays. “Track is just not where my heart is,” said Buck.
The senior said that since she started her volleyball recruiting process so late, she knew she would have to start at a lower level of competition. “I never seemed to have time to go on visits to schools so I was a bit restricted by that,” she said. She did visit a few schools including Rock Valley where she found a good fit. “I really liked coach Pierce and I liked that its a two year school and a smaller program, which will allow me to get myself playing time. They have great facilities, and campus and it’s not too far from home and I knew I wanted to be somewhere my family and grandparents could come and see me play.”
Kristy Pierce, Golden Eagle Head Volleyball Coach is extremely excited to land Buck. “Kennedy is a hard working competitive multi-sport athlete. Her demeaner, work ethic, and time management skills she has already established will make this a very natural progression for her. We needed someone to come in and run our offense for a team that went to the National Tournament last season with primarily an all-freshman roster. We needed a proven winner and someone willing to work and take instruction. Her added bonuses were her good grades and strong character.”
EP head volleyball coach Heather Bruns also had big praise for her four-year athlete. “I am so proud of Kennedy for pursuing not only volleyball, but also basketball in college! Kennedy has been our starting setter for the last four years. She brought a lot of physical talent to the team, but she also has a volleyball IQ that is phenomenal for an athlete her age. She has grown leaps and bounds, especially in her leadership and vocal presence on the court. I can’t wait to see what Kennedy will do in college. I’m sure it will be nothing short of excellent. Kennedy leaves the EP program with her name all over the record books. I am so excited to watch her continue to crush goals and leave her stamp wherever she goes!”
The basketball side of the equation came a bit later. “Playing basketball in college was always in the back of my mind, so I asked coach Pierce if it would be alright to reach out to the school’s basketball coach. She said that was fine so on one of my trips to the campus I spoke with one of the assistant basketball coaches and they put me in touch with the head coach. I reached out to him and sent some videos and he said he would love to have me.”
Buck said it will be nice to just focus on two sports and thinks that will improve her quality of play. “With volleyball taking up six to eight months each year it’s was always hard to focus on just one sport.” She hopes to play volleyball at a higher level after her two years at Rock Valley.
Kennedy is the daughter of Karyn Sommers-Buck and Trent Buck.
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Congratulations