Somers to Trinity, Hamann to hall of fame

A national champion volleyball player is headed to play for the Trinity International University women's volleyball team next fall.

Katelyn Somers, who set the Harper women's volleyball team to a NJCAA national title last fall, has signed and received a full athletic scholarship to the Evangelical Christian liberal arts institution in Deerfield.

The Buffalo Grove High School graduate enjoyed a terrific two-year run at Harper, leading the nation in assists in 2016 with 1,304.

In 2015, she finished second in the nation with 1,496 for a career total of 2800, and a Harper College career record.

She recorded 56 double-doubles as a Hawk.

Harper's dream season of 43-1 ended when it defeated Ridgewater College 25-21, 25-22, 25-19 in the national championship match in Minnesota.

"It was an amazing season," said Somers, who was named to the national all-tourney team. "I was so proud to be a part of the team and the journey we went on. I am so thankful to not only my team but all the support I received from friends, family and the fantastic coaches at Harper."

Somers praised Harper's academics and coach Bob Vilsoet's program.

"I would encourage local players to consider Harper as their college," she said. "Not only is the volleyball program great but so is the rest of the Harper experience."

Somers visited many schools to see where she wanted to continue her volleyball career and education.

"I really believe I made the best decision I could," she said. "I cannot wait to start playing volleyball at this amazing school. The coach is really positive and honest and the players I met have been so nice."

Hamann to Hall

John Hamann, the late father of Prospect girls golf coach Jim Hamann, has been voted into the Willowbrook High School Athletics Hall of Fame as a coach.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony and celebration will be Thursday, Feb. 2 in Lombard.

John Hamann coached under-level baseball at Willowbrook. One of his players was pitcher Dan Schatzeder, who won game six of the 1987 Twins in the World Series.

He was one of the most successful varsity basketball coaches in Willowbrook history. His teams were always filling the gym to maximum capacity.

In the 1974-75 season opener, coach Hamann's Warriors defeated defending state champions and the No. 1 ranked team in the state, Proviso East.

That legendary game is still discussed on a regular basis today.

Hamann coached the boys basketball team from 1971 to 1986. He also coached the boys golf team at Willowbrook for 38 years, known as one of the most respected golf coaches in the state.

John Hamann passed away in 2010 but his coaching legacy lives on through his family.

His son Jeff was a long-time girls golf coach (16 years) at Maine South High School and is currently in his 21st year of coaching high school basketball.

Jim, a math teacher at Prospect, coached basketball for 13 years and is currently in his 15th year coaching at the Mt. Prospect High School. Jim is one of the most successful girls golf coaches in the state, with titles in 2011 and 2013.

John Hamann's youngest child, Julie, is a grade school teacher at St. Celestine School in Elmwood Park.

John's daughters-in-law Gina and Katie are also high school teachers. John's wife Jalaine, and the entire Hamann family fund the John Hamann Athletic Scholarship Fund that gives two $2,500 scholarships every year (one girl and one boy) to Willowbrook High School student athletes in honor of coach John Hamann.

Women' basketball

Cornell junior Diamond Boyd (Elk Grove) was named Midwest Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week.

Boyd was instrumental in a 58-55 road win over Ripon, keeping the Rams (10-3 overall, 8-0 MWC) undefeated in conference play and putting them two games ahead of the chase pack.

Boyd netted a game-high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field against the Red Hawks (6-2 in the MWC).

The 5-foot-10 forward also grabbed 10 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season, the fifth in league play.

Boyd helped the Rams overcome an early 20-4 deficit in a game they trailed for more than 36 minutes. She totaled 12 points and seven boards after intermission.

A night earlier, Cornell cruised to an 80-41 win at Lawrence.

In the two games, Boyd averaged 15.5 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the floor.

She leads the MWC in rebounding (10.5). She is second in steals (3.2) and field goal percentage (50.3) and third in scoring (15.2 ppg).

• Carthage sophomore center Monica Masini (Palatine) notched a career-high 20 points along with 12 rebounds for a double-double when the Lady Reds dropped an 87-82 decision to North Central in Naperville.

Men's basketball:

University of Rochester 6-foot-8 freshman forward Patrick Benka (Fremd) has played in 15 games for the 15-1 and No. 8-ranked Yellowjackets, who are 4-1 in the University Athletic Association. Benka has scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while coming off the bench.

• Carthage senior guard Kevin Kozil (Hersey) scored 11 points with a team-high 5 assists in the Red Men's 81-76 loss at Carroll University.

Football

Bowling Green junior wide receiver Scotty Miller (Barrington) enjoyed a big 2016 season, leading the team in pass receiving with 74 receptions for 968 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Miller had two games with 11 catches each (Eastern Michigan for 148 yards and Miami of Ohio for 178). His three-touchdown games were against Toledo and North Dakota. Miller also ran back 19 kickoffs for 336 yards.

Women's cross country

North Central sophomore Hailey Dammeier (Wheeling) and senior Yesenia Nunez (Hoffman Estates) earned Academic All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin honors.

Dammeier, a two-time honoree, competed in eight races and was the Cardinals' top finisher at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Midwest Open, placing 64th overall. She placed 22nd at CCIW Championships and 144th at Midwest region Championships.

Nunez, a two-time honoree, competed in five races and recorded her best finish at the CCIW Championship, placing 42nd.

Men's track and field

Augustana freshman Shane Huffaker (Maine West) finished seventh at 12' 6" in the pole vault at the Sol Butler Invitational in Dubuque, IA. The Vikings won the 12-team event with 103 points to edge past William Penn (90.5).

Punt, pass and kick

Kathryn Eidle of Arlington Heights has been invited to compete in the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick National Finals on Friday, Jan. 27 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports as part of Pro Bowl Week in Orlando, Fla.

She will represent the Chicago Bears and is one of 40 young athletes across the United States to compete.

Athletes advanced to the national finals through local, sectional and team championship competitions throughout the NFL season. At the national finals, competitors within each age division will launch two punts, two passes and two kicks with scores based on distance and accuracy (in feet). The top scorer in each group will be crowned the national champion.

• Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.