Schweizer to play volleyball at Kaskaskia College

Posted April 06, 2017 11:00 pm

By Jim Beers Contributing Writer

Chester High School Lady Yellow Jacket Hannah Schweizer has signed to play volleyball to play for the Kaskaskia College Blue Angels beginning this fall.

The signing event took place at Chester High School on April 3. Joining her at the table were her parents, Michelle and Shawn Schweizer, Kaskaskia College head coach Kim Rahar, CHS assistant volleyball coach Adam Gibbs and Darren Verseman, Hannah's club volleyball coach of the Perryville Block Party Club Team.

"I am excited to get Hannah this fall," Rahar said. "We are really beefing up at all positions this year.

"I want depth at all positions so that multiple kids can play at any position any time I need them. Players will have to fight for their spots, but that is a good thing."

Kaskaskia College is a two-year community college located in Centralia. The 2016 Blue Angels, who are part of the Great Rivers Athletic Conference, finished with an overall record of 18-13 and a conference record of 7-3.

"I am really looking forward to college," Schweizer said. "I am also very fortunate to be able to continue to play volleyball at the college level.

"I guess I am an example that hard work pays off."

A St. Mary's School alumnus, Schweizer played volleyball for Karen Bert her freshman and sophomore years at CHS and Chad Koenegstein her junior and senior years.

She was selected to the Southern Illinois Coaches Association' All-South Team during the 2015 and 2016 seasons and was also a Black Diamond Conference West Division all-conference MVP her senior year.

This year she was also an all-tournament team selection at the Freeburg Tournament and she was MVP of the Trico Tournament. At the Lady Yellow Jackets' annual awards banquet, Schweizer was announced as the team's MVP.

"Hannah can be noted for her leadership and work ethic," Koenegstein said. "She scored 320 points via kills, blocks and aces this season leading us to a 28-3 record.

"She along with the other three seniors put this program  back on track and made history."

Schweizer has also played for the Southern Illinois Ladies Volleyball Association (SILVA) and most recently has been playing on the Blue Steele Volleyball Team from O'Fallon/St. Louis.

The Blue Steele recently qualified to advance to the National Championships in Dallas, Texas, on April 21.

To earn that honor, the Blue Steele had to qualify at two regionals including Kansas City and Indianapolis.  Hannah is most excited to have this opportunity to close her high school level career competing at the National Championships.

"Most recently she really stepped out of her comfort zone and joined the Blue Steele Club Volleyball Select Team in O'Fallon/St. Louis," said Hannah's mother, Michelle Schweizer. "I am very proud of her efforts and accomplishments and am excited for her to continue her volleyball careers at Kaskaskia College."

"I have coached her and watched her since the sixth grade," Gibbs said. "She was one of two very talented girls in the sixth grade and I knew she had potential.

"She was taller than most girls and was a great hitter in the eighth grade."

Verseman was Schweizer's coach at Perryville when she played club volleyball for the Perryville Block Party.

"Hannah was always very competitive," he said. "She was a very excited player. I loved her verbal leadership. She taught the other girls it was okay to be excited and to be expressive on the floor."

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