In a resume dotted with scores of individual recognitions for her indomitable play on the volleyball court, what shines brightest in Jessica Yanz’s memory is winning the State Championship with her teammates in 2005. It was an immensely proud accomplishment, made even sweeter by the journey that led to that trophy-hoisting moment. Reflecting on a time of both success and transition, Yanz remembers, “Amy Van Eekeren was the varsity coach my freshman year. She took a huge chance on a scrawny freshman setter and let me set an upperclassmen-laden varsity team. She was probably the only one in the gym that believed in me, but that gave me enough confidence to continue with the sport of volleyball and ultimately play in college.” Under head coach Brie Issacson‘s tutelage in the years that followed, Yanz continued to blossom. “[Issacson] taught me what hard work looked like,” Yanz shared. “There was no excuse for anything less than 100% in her gym, and she demanded excellence in both the classroom and the court.” That demand of excellence paid off in fantastic dividends for both Yanz and her fellow teammates. Yanz’s volleyball scrapbook is full of both outstanding achievements and fond memories. A four-year varsity letter winner, she finished her high school years with a school record 2,705 career assists, including a school record 902 assists during the 2005 season alone. She was a two-time DuPage Valley All-Conference selection in 2004 and 2005, and a four-time DuPage Valley Academic All-Conference selection. The 2005 season saw Yanz earn numerous honors, including distinction as the Chicago Sun-Times, Naperville Sun, and Daily Herald Player of the Year for volleyball. She was named First-Team All-State by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Champaign Gazette, Daily Herald, and Naperville Sun, and was declared a “Fab 50” selection by Volleyball Magazine. Her absolute commitment to the sport and her team earned her recognition as the 2006 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. While she loved competing for NCHS, Yanz was an equally avid fan of all things Redhawk. As a member of Red Rage, she spent countless hours painting signs and getting ready for home and away athletic events. “I was asked once to be the Redhawk mascot and it might have been the highlight of my non-athletic career at Central,” Yanz chuckled. She threw herself into all of her endeavors with enviable passion and drive, earning National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society recognition. She found a special home in Physical Education teacher Paul Zientarski’s leadership’s class where she felt “fortunate to be both a participant and later an upperclassman leader” and to be able to “develop and fine tune [the] leadership skills that helped [her] performance on the volleyball court and in everyday settings.” Ready to fly after her foundational years at NCHS, Yanz headed to Penn State University, where she spent two years in the Nittany Lions volleyball program. During her tenure there, Yanz played in 18 matches, including four starts. As a freshman, her play contributed to PSU’s Big Ten conference championship, as well their NCAA Elite 8 finish. In 2007, she helped her team to a 34-2 record and the thrill of a National Championship. In 2008, Yanz transferred to Nebraska. While she could not compete due to NCAA transfer rules, she could practice with the team. Her enthusiasm and fire contributed to Nebraska’s 2008 Big 12 Conference championship and NCAA Final Four finish, successes that only continued in 2009 when she could fully compete, leading her Huskers to the Elite 8. After earning her B.S. in Business Administration in the spring of 2010, she began graduate school at the University of Dayton, playing her final season of eligibility for the Flyers. In that final season, she made a victory loop, earning recognition as the Atlantic 10 Championship Most Outstanding Player and Setter of the Year, as well as a spot on the AVCA Division I All-America Honorable Mention list, all while helping her teammates to a conference championship and a second-round appearance at the NCAA tournament. Combining athletic competiveness with academic intensity, Yanz graduated with an MS in Interdisciplinary Educational Studies and was named the University of Dayton’s first Director of Volleyball Operations, a position she held for two seasons. Under her leadership, the Flyers won two more Atlantic 10 Conference championship and made two NCAA tournament appearances. In 2013, she was named the Director of Volleyball Operations at Wisconsin, where her teams earned distinction, including NCAA National Runner Up (2013), Elite 8 (2014), and Sweet 16 (2015) appearances. Yanz married her husband, Andy Williams in 2015 and has since moved to his hometown in Nebraska, where she currently works at Central Community College as the Executive Assistant to the College President. Reflecting on her journey, Yanz’s advice to current Naperville Central’s student-athletes is this: “Enjoy the moment. There were times when I was so eager to get out of high school and leave Naperville that I feel like I missed out on opportunities I would never have the chance to do again…appreciate the time you have NOW to compete and play the sport(s) you love.” Yanz gave her all to the sport, teams, schools, and friends she loved, which makes the accomplishments on her life resume truly shine in the eyes of those who know and love her back.