Averie Hernandez

Photo by: Kevin Snyder/Illinois Athletics

Photo by: David Dermer/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: John Konstantaras/Northwestern Athletics

Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics

Height:
6-2
Class:
First-Year
High School:
Normal Community West HS
Hometown:
Bloomington, Ill.

2023: Developed into a fixture in the Wildcat lineup, appearing in 86 sets across 26 matches ... Hammered 217 kills, ranking second on the Wildcat roster with 2.52 kills per set ... Upped that mark to 2.84 kills per set during Big Ten Conference play ... Had 14 matches with 10-plus kills, all of which came against conference opposition ... Put up five kills in non-conference matchup with Milwaukee (Sept. 4) ... Erupted for 15 kills and eight digs in five-set clash against Michigan State (Sept. 29) ... Put up 13 kills in thrilling reverse sweep of No. 17 Purdue (Oct. 1) ... Chipped in 10 kills and three blocks at Michigan (Oct. 6) ... Hit a sizzling .353 as she finished with 17 kills in a five-set win on the road at Michigan State (Oct. 7) ... Hammered 14 kills on the road at No. 24 Minnesota (Oct. 15) ... Led the Wildcats vs. No. 1 Nebraska (Oct. 18), finishing with 11 kills ... Fired a career-best four service aces in addition to 11 kills and eight digs in five-set triumph at home over Michigan (Oct. 21) ... Put up career-best marks in both kills (21) and digs (14) en route to first collegiate double-double in five-set win against Indiana (Oct. 29) ... Credited with 12 kills at Illinois (Nov. 1) ... Chipped in 11 kills in return meeting with Minnesota (Nov. 5) ... Finished with 13 kills as Northwestern took a set on the road at No. 1 Nebraska (Nov. 8) ... Pounded 11 kills in road sweep of Iowa (Nov. 12) ... Added 12 kills in win at Rutgers (Nov. 17) ... Finished with 13 kills in home victory over Iowa (Nov. 24).

2022: Tallied 15 kills, 11 digs, and nine aces as a first-year ... Recorded her first kill in her first collegiate action against Northeastern (Aug. 27) ... Tallied six kills against Rutgers (Oct. 7) ... Had three aces against Purdue (Oct. 28) ... Notched three kills on six attempts against Ohio St. (Nov. 4).

High School: Nominated for 2020 Gatorade Player of the Year … 2018, 2019, and 2020 All-State selection … 2018, 2019, and 2020 First Team All-Conference … Big 12 Scholar Athlete … 2018 and 2019 Lincoln Invite All-Tournament Team … Four-year letter winner … Two-time captain … Holds both single-season and career kill records at Normal West … Over 1,000 career high school kills … Led team to Regional Championship in 2018 and 2021 … Played seven seasons for Illini Elite Volleyball Club … Ranked 35th best played in class of 2022 by Prep Volleyball.

Personal: Born Averie Alexis Hernandez … Parents are Johnny and Hilarie Hernandez … Father Johnny played basketball at Eastern Illinois University … Mother, Hilarie, played volleyball at University of Illinois Chicago … Brother Cole plays football at Truman State University … National Honors Society … Four year honor roll … Chose Northwestern over Purdue, Ohio State, Marquette … Anticipated major is journalism.