Two from Breese to play for Washington U.

Belleville News-Democrat

March 22, 2008

The defending NCAA Division III national champions have been fortified by a pair of volleyball standouts from Breese high schools.

Mater Dei senior Erin Kasson and Central senior Lauren Budde, the 2007 News-Democrat Small-School Player of the Year, recently announced their intentions to join Washington University's volleyball program.

The Bears won their Division III-record ninth national title last November, beating Wisconsin-Whitewater in the championship match in Bloomington.

'We are ecstatic both Erin and Lauren will be joining us next fall,' Washington U. head coach Rich Luenemann said in a press release. 'They are two of the best players to ever come out of the Breese area, which is one of the strongest prep volleyball areas in Illinois.'

Kasson, who lives in Breese, and Budde, who lives in Bartelso, have played against one another since the fourth grade. For the past three years they have been teammates on the same club team for Southwest Illinois Volleyball Club.

'It's going to be so fun,' Kasson said. 'Just playing club with her for a couple of years and to keep playing in college for four years, that's going to be neat. I just e-mailed her about that the other day.'

Kasson, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, possesses a devastating spike and has a tremendous vertical leap. She was a member of either the News-Democrat All-Area first or second team for four years.

This season Kasson had a team-high 279 kills for the 33-5 Knights. Kasson, who ranks first academically in her class with a perfect 4.0 GPA and wants to be a surgeon, considered not playing volleyball in college to concentrate on her studies.

'Stuff was winding down, and I didn't know if could stand not playing,' she said. 'Just to get into Wash. U. for academics would be great, but playing volleyball is just an added bonus.'

Budde, a 5-10 middle hitter, has been voted News-Democrat Player of the Year two straight years by area coaches. She had a team-high 364 kills, 210 blocks and 34 aces for the Cougars (33-8), who beat Hampshire in the title match of the inaugural Class 2A state tournament at Redbird Arena in Normal.

A three-year starter, Budde never left the floor for the Cougars. Like Kasson, Budde ranks No. 1 academically in her class with a 5.2 GPA on a 5.0 scale.

'Lauren is one of the most versatile players we have ever recruited,' Luenemann said. 'She can play anywhere in the front row and is exceptionally talented as both an attacker and a blocker.'

Budde and Kasson join a healthy metro-east contingent at Washington U. Senior middle hitter Ellen Bruegge (Mater Dei) has graduated, but returnees include junior outside hitter Alli Alberts (Freeburg), sophomore middle hitter Erin Albers (Althoff) and assistant coaches Charlie Rodman (Belleville West) and Erin Noble (Belleville West).

Contact reporter Rod Kloeckner at rkloeckner@bnd.com or 239-2663.

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