By Jeff Vorva

Abby Vander Wal knows how to please a crowd.
It could be at a small gathering at Park Place of Elmhurst Retirement Home, playing guitar and singing Alan Jackson and Ed Sheeran songs with her grandfather.

It could be slamming volleyball with great power in a packed gym at Timothy Christian High School.

Better yet, it could be in front of a bigger crowd at CEFCU Arena in Normal, helping the Knights finish third in the Illinois High School Association state Class 2A championships.
But the biggest stage is yet to come.

Vander Wal, who was recently surprised by winning the 2024-25 Gatorade Illinois Volleyball Player of the Year award, should be wrapping up her final semester at Timothy but is instead starting her first semester at the University of Texas. The Longhorns have won national championships in 2022 and 2023 and can draw 5,000 fans at their home games.

The Gatorade honor is also Texas-sized. Sometimes, the Gatorade reps come to the recipient’s school to surprise the athlete. Since Vander Wal was already in Austin, the surprise on Jan. 9 was understated, but it was still fun for her.

“I was already here when it came out,” she said. “It was my move-in day here, and I looked at my phone, and it said that Gatorade tagged me in a story. I was like, ‘Ooohhh’. I looked at it, and it said I won Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. I freaked out and called my mom and dad (Kristi and Steve), and it was awesome. It was special. It was fun.”

The 6-foot-3 senior outside hitter recorded 455 kills and 220 digs this past season, leading the Trojans (39-3) to the Class 2A state semifinals. Vander Wal also compiled 73 aces and 30 blocks while posting a .501 hitting percentage. She was also an American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-American and ranked as the nation’s No. 2 recruit in the Class of 2025 by PrepDig.com. She was also a member of the U.S. Under-21 Women’s National Team which won the gold medal at the NORCECA Championships last summer.

Timothy Christian coach Scott Piersma said he will miss Vander Wal’s presence during matches.

“She is one of the most physically sound athletes to play,” he said. “She makes it look very easy because she is so practiced, well-rounded, and skilled that it doesn’t look like she is working hard. But, of course, she is. She can make the game look easy. Certainly, at 6-foot-3, she stands above everybody else. She’s an imposing force even when we are just walking in with the team. She is dominant both offensively and defensively, and it takes a lot of hard work on her end. She never rested on her height alone.”

But Piersma rested on the idea of making her a one-woman show. He knew that if the team was going to be elite, other players would have to step in and help. He said she was probably capable of racking up 700 or more kills if they overused her, but that wasn’t in the cards and the result was a dream season that included the third-place finish in the state.

“I’m so proud of the girls and how we worked every day. We wanted it so badly for each other, and the coaches wanted it bad,” VanderWal said. “Finally, getting to the state tournament was unbelievable. It was everything I dreamed it would be. I’m so honored to be a part of that. It was pretty incredible.”

Aside from volleyball, Gatorade officials were impressed that she was a member of the school concert choir, student activities committee, and youth group at her church. She has served as a Young Life Wyldlife leader and small group leader/mentor for junior high school girls and volunteered locally through her church by visiting and singing with dementia patients. She also served with Habitat for Humanity.

Vander Wal cherishes the times she sang with her grandfather at Park Place and said that the patients would sing along and enjoy the entertainment.

Meanwhile, the early jump to get to Texas has been beneficial to her.

“I love it so far,” Vander Wal said. “Texas has so much to offer, and everyone has been so welcoming here. It’s making the transition so much easier.” ■