Here Comes The Boom: Kaitlyn Ill
If you’ve ever witnessed Millington volleyball in action and hear a big boom, rest assure, you just heard the prowess of Kaitlyn Ill. The senior outside hitter has been having an extraordinary year for the Cardinal, leading the team into…
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Continue ReadingIf you’ve ever witnessed Millington volleyball in action and hear a big boom, rest assure, you just heard the prowess of Kaitlyn Ill.
The senior outside hitter has been having an extraordinary year for the Cardinal, leading the team into a new era under head coach Michelle Bouck.
Photo by Quad N ProductionsComing to little surprise to many in the area. The 5’11 outside hitter has been making a splash in the area volleyball scene for a bulk of her career. In her junior campaign, Ill earned All-Region and a Second team All-Tri Valley East honor. But like many in the area, Kaitlyn was just warming up. Now onto her senior campaign, Ill has been leading the charge to a stellar season that is on the hunt to breaking records.
Currently sitting amongst the top of Division 3 volleyball at 23. The Cardinal currently boasts a record of 41-7-4 entering into the MHSAA Regional Semi-Finals. This team is closing in on a school record for most wins in a single season. This record being 42 wins owned by the 1993 Millington team, then being tied in 1998. The 1993 record holding dear to Ill.
Kaitlyn spoke on the record. “Beating the school record for most wins in a season was a goal of ours. This record means a great deal to us as a team. Our coach Michelle Bouck and her team set the record back in 1993. My two aunts, Robin Kozuch and Renee Dukate (both formerly Ill), also participated on this team. The two were referred to as the twin towers.”
Photo by Quad N ProductionsAnother goal of Kaitlyn and company was to secure a conference title, the first since 1998, and to make a MHSAA regional appearance. Millington lost the conference title to Birch Run, which came down to a tough 5-set decider.
Despite the loss, it ignited a bigger fire for the team. The Cardinal just won their first district title in over 15 years. With the first district title win since 2003, Ill and friends have check-marked the goal of making a regional appearance. In the same effort, bringing the squad to being one win away from history. The school record is within arms reach. Ill lead the pack, leading the way with 36 kills on a .540 hitting percentage.
Photo by Quad N ProductionsCoach Bouck boasted about her kills leader. “She is a talented athlete who has had extensive training. In addition to training she’s received with the Millington High School program, she’s attended various camps. (Kaitlyn) also playing several years of club volleyball for an elite, national team.” She continued to rave on the starlet. “Kaitlyn is valuable not just as a hitter, but also as a passer. She serve receives for us in 5/6 rotations, and I rank her as one of my best two passers on serve receive.”
En route to this historic season for Millington, the 6-rotation OH has been the steady cannon for the team. Blazing a trail along the way, Ill has notched 523 kills on a .354 hitting clip. While also leading the team in digs and serve reception with 288 digs and 472 receptions. Kaitlyn posted 29 double digit kill matches during the season.
Speaking on her final season. “I think the play this year is different than those of my 3 past seasons on varsity is that we all know what we are capable of. We know that we are good and that we can be great. We just have to work for it. As a captain, my goals for this team was to beat our rival Frankenmuth and to make it to regionals. These were apart of our big goal to break the school record.”
Kaitlyn is currently looking to further her athletic career after the her time as a Millington Cardinal.
Millington will be back in action on Tuesday in Bad Axe to square off with Rylee Zimmer and company for a chance to advance to the Regional Final.