Russ Rose Then (2002): “Hilary is a multi-purpose player for us because if we need to put Hilary in as a hitter, we can do that.  She was one of the top hitters when she came out of high school.  The libero position is truly custom made for Hilary, as it’s an opportunity for her to pass and be involved in all of the plays.  It’s a great opportunity for her to play defense and demonstrate her quickness and volleyball savvy.  She is a very bright girl both in the classroom and off the court.  What I think is important is that Hilary has a solid year from a leadership standpoint, along with keeping her game at a high level.  As the libero, you need to be focused and be a player that is ready to play every rally and not get caught up in any of the distractions that normally can be thrown your way.  A great deal of our success will depend on Hilary’s performance.”

Russ Rose Now (2025): Hilary was an explosive, fast twitch player.  I loved how hard Hillary hit the ball. I mean, back when she was in club volleyball, there’d be a big crowd watching her court when she was playing because of how dynamic she was.  She jumped so well, so she kind of gave hope to the shorter people.  She was built like her dad — she had long arms.  Hillary could pass very well, she was a terrific defensive player, and she was a very strong attacker.

Before Penn State: Lettered two years at Crystal Lake Central before transferring to Prairie Ridge High School, where she was a two-year starter and captain; a “Fab 50” selection by Volleyball Magazine; Chicago Tribune second-team All State honoree; named Player of the Year by the Northwest Herald; voted All-area by the Chicago Sun-Times.