Lemont’s Kelly Ferguson Commits to Play Volleyball at Austin Peay

Lemont High School senior Kelly Ferguson has signed a National Letter
of Intent to play women’s college volleyball at Austin Peay State University beginning in Fall 2014.

A 6’1” middle blocker, Ferguson earned four varsity letters playing in head coach Chris Zogata’s Lemont volleyball program. During her tenure, Lemont posted a 102-47 composite record, which included a near-perfect 49-3 record in South Suburban Conference play. The Indians won four straight SSC Blue titles and two IHSA Regional crowns, while also posting one IHSA Sectional finalist finish. A two-time all-conference selection, she totaled 437 kills, 110 service aces and 259 blocks (96 solo) in her career. She finished as a career .351 hitter, and averaged nearly one block per game (0.97).

Ferguson capped her career with her finest season. Serving as a team captain, she repeated as an All-SSC performer and all-tourney selection at Rich East, and also was cited as an all-area pick by the Joliet Herald News, SouthtownStar and Suburban Life Newspapers. She led the team with 56 service aces, 111 blocks (40 solo) and a .378 hitting percentage—each of which also represented single-season career bests. She ranked third on the team with 160 kills, and posted per-game averages of 1.90 kills, 0.67 aces and 1.32 blocks. Lemont posted a 27–9 record and won the SSC Blue title.

Ferguson earned her first all-conference citation as a junior in 2012after totaling a career-best 173 kills (1.99 per game) and leading the squad with 32 service aces, 88 blocks (42 solo) and a .377 hitting percentage. She was cited to the Rich East All-Tournament team and repeated as the team’s “Best Blocker” award winner. Lemont finished 26-13 overall and captured the SSC Blue crown after finishing with a 12-1 league record. The Indians moved to Class 4A in 2012, and captured an IHSA Regional title and finished as the sectional runner-up to the eventual state champion.

Ferguson moved into the starting line-up as a sophomore in 2011, hitting .300 while totaling 99 kills, 21 service aces and 58 blocks (12 solo). Her teammates tabbed her for the squad’s “Best Blocker” award. The Indians finished 22-15 overall and 12-1 in SSC play, which earned them a conference title.

She first gained varsity experience as a freshman in 2010, coming off the bench to play in 12 games. Lemont went 27-10 (13-0 SSC) and won SSC Blue and IHSA Class 3A Regional titles that season.

A high honor roll student and National Honor Society member who has played club volleyball for 1st Alliance, Ferguson will play for head coach Taylor Mott at Austin Peay, an NCAA Division I institution located in Clarksville, Tenn., and a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Mott is in her second season as the Lady Govs’ head coach; she led the team to a 17-16 record a year ago, which included a 10-6 mark in league play and a runner-up finish in the OVC West standings.