Burbage excited to get back on court with Illini volleyball
Share this @internewscast.com

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Graduate senior Kayla Burbage is back for one last ride with Illini volleyball.

Burbage participated in 30 matches during her sophomore year and another 30 as a junior. However, despite ranking third on her team for kills in 2023, she had to sit out her senior season in 2024 due to shoulder surgery.

Now, the Clayton, N.C. native is back and ready to return to action.

Burbage will play her final year of college as a middle blocker, a move from opposite/outside hitter in previous seasons.

“She rejoined practice and, to cut a long story short, began excelling in the middle,” Illinois head coach Chris Tamas remarked at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago on Monday. “She looked over and said, ‘Yeah, I enjoy this very much.'”

“The transition has been wonderful,” Burbage noted, drawing on her prior experience in the middle from her high school club days. “I love it… It just feels instinctive to be back there… Everything flows smoothly, and I’m definitely ready to start the season.”

Interestingly enough, volleyball wasn’t always the favorite sport of the impactful Illini veteran.

“I played nearly every sport imaginable except volleyball until high school,” she shared. “Being from North Carolina, I grew tired of wearing hot softball pants in 90-degree weather. So, I switched to volleyball and instantly fell in love with it. My family is passionate about it, and my sister plays now… It’s the quintessential team sport, and it’s incredibly fun to work together towards a common goal. That aspect of volleyball was what really drew me in.”

Illinois was picked to finish ninth in the Big Ten on the conference’s preseason poll.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Augusta Salvation Army Seeking Bedding Donations for Center of Hope Shelter

AUGUSTA, Ga. () – The Salvation Army of Augusta is teaming up…

Cincinnati Leaders Challenge Media Portrayal of Viral Assault

() Cincinnati officials lashed out at the media for coverage of a…

JD Vance Expresses Strong Fascination with Mysterious UFO Videos

() Vice President JD Vance is “obsessed with the whole UFO thing,”…

Trump Criticizes Powell, Calls for Control Over Federal Reserve Board

President Trump on Friday morning fumed at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell,…

Survey Shows 85% of Parents Concerned About Tariffs Increasing Back-to-School Expenses

(The Hill) — Parents are feeling the pressure of potential tariff increases…

Smithsonian Faces Criticism for Taking Trump Out of Impeachment Exhibit

(The Hill) The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History removed an…

Time is Running Out to Save Tampa Bay’s Public Road Art from Removal

The phrase “Black History Matters” is prominently displayed on the street outside…

Democrats Criticize Trump and GOP Following Disappointing Jobs Report: ‘Terrible’

Democrats on Capitol Hill are hammering President Trump and his GOP allies…

Jeannie Seely, soulful country singer of ‘Don’t Touch Me’ fame, passes away at 85

NEW YORK – Jeannie Seely, the soulful country music singer behind such…

“Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando to Host ‘Sister Act’ Performance”

ORLANDO, Fla. – The feel-good musical comedy based on the hit 1992…

Jet2holidays Expresses Disappointment Over White House’s Use of Viral Meme

(NEXSTAR) – Representatives for U.K. travel companies Jet2 and Jet2holidays expressed their…

MLB Transforms NASCAR Track into Record-Breaking Stadium for a Single Day

Saturday’s event is expected to draw the largest crowd in Major League…