Many high school players with her talent might have signed with an established Division I program, but Kelsey Augustine took a different route when she chose the Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville women’s volleyball program.

The sophomore middle hitter from Geneva couldn’t be more pleased with her decision to help the Cougars build toward next season’s full DI status.

Recruited by coach Ted Gober, Augustine signed with the Cougars in 2009 soon after Geneva’s 35-3 season ended with a three-set sectional semifinal loss to York. Augustine considered other universities, but one of the main draws of SIU-E was the opportunity to play for a program still in the Division I reclassification process.