CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Parkland College Athletic Department and the Cobras volleyball program are proud to announce that eight players have committed to continue their volleyball and academic careers at four-year universities next season. The list of transfers includes super-sophomores Halle Everett, Kayla Brandon and Isabella Classen, sophomores Arika Richardson, Hailey Sperling, Sophie Young, Jayden Sortor and Ella Godsell. The eight Parkland volleyball players from this year's team moving on to the next level, athletically, brings the total up to 42 who have done so in the past eleven years. This past season, the Cobras achieved an overall record of 56-3 that included M-WAC and District championships as well as a National Championship, the program's third national title in the last seven seasons. 
 
Halle Everett, from Norris City, Illinois, appeared in 69 matches during her Parkland career, earning NJCAA First Team All-American honors and being selected as the MWAC Female Athlete of the year in 2020-21. This past season, the Norris City-Omaha-Enfield High School alum was named an MWAC All-Conference Honorable mention, finishing the year with 304 kills and 2.9 kills per set while battling injury.
Everett transferred to the University of Memphis campus this past spring. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the Tigers compete at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference.
 
Kayla Brandon, from Champaign, IL, appeared in 125 matches as a Parkland Cobra over three seasons. The St. Thomas Moore High School alum was named to the 2020-21 All-MWAC First Team and the 2020-21 All-Region Second Team this past season while leading the team with 79 service aces, good for 5th in the country. Brandon tied a career-high in aces in the National Championship match against Cowley County with five, helping the Cobras win the title. Brandon finishes her career tied with Sadie Dizney for the 5th most aces in the history of Parkland Volleyball with 146.
Brandon transferred to the University of Central Michigan this past spring. Located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, the Chippewas compete at the NCAA Division I level in the American Athletic Conference.
 
Isabella Classen, from Hartsburg, Illinois, appeared in 115 matches for the Cobras during her three years with the team. The Hartsburg-Emden High School alum finished the season fourth on the team in aces with 68 (15th nationally), and fifth on the team in digs with 409. Classen also had five aces in the National Championship match against Cowley County, and the most aces on the Cobras in the NJCAA DII National Tournament with 11.
Classen transferred to Keiser University his past spring. Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Seahawks compete at the NAIA level in the Sun Conference.
 
Arika Richardson, from Oglesby, Illinois, appeared in 89 matches during her career as a Cobra. This past season, the Lasalle-Peru Township High School alum produced 461 kills (15th nationally), 2.94 kills per set and 550 points (12th nationally) on her way to being named to the 2021 MWAC All-Conference First Team. Richardson impressed in the National Championship Tournament, tallying 13 kills and 3 blocks in the NJCAA DII quarterfinals match against Terra State Community College.
Richardson transfers to Indiana State University located in Terre Haute, Indiana this summer. The volleyball program competes at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
Hailey Sperling, from Minooka, Illinois, appeared in 76 matches during her time in Champaign. In the 2021 season, the outside hitter tallied 191 kills, 52 digs and 39 blocks across 95 sets. In the Cobras' regular season finale, the Minooka High School alum produced 11 kills to help lead Parkland to its 32nd straight win.
Sperling transfers to Western Illinois University located in Macomb, Illinois this summer. The Leathernecks compete at the NCAA Division I level and are members of the Summit League Athletic Conference.
 
Sophie Young, from Nelson, New Zealand, appeared in 64 matches over two years with Parkland College. The Cobras' setter led the country in assists last season with 1,976 and Young ranked second in the nation with an average of 11.84 assists per set. For her efforts, the Nayland College alum was named to the NJCAA All-American First Team as well as First Team All-Conference.
Young joins the Long Island University Sharks this upcoming season. Located in Brooklyn and Brookville, New York, the Sharks compete at the NCAA Division I level as members of the Northeast Conference.
 
Jayden Sortor, from Sherman, Illinois, appeared in 93 matches during her Parkland career. The Cobras' outside hitter produced 372 kills (34th nationally) and 217 total blocks (2nd in the country) while boasting a 41.3% hitting percentage (4th) this past season. The Williamsville High School alum stepped up big in the 2021 National Championship match, tallying 8 kills and 6 blocks to help guide the team to victory.
Sortor will be joining the volleyball program at Harris-Stowe University for this upcoming season. Located in St. Louis, Missouri, the Harris-Stowe Hornets compete at the NAIA level and are members of the American Midwest Conference.
 
Ella Godsell, from Philo, Illinois, appeared in 41 games for the Cobras over two seasons. The Unity High School alum produced 182 digs and 29 services aces this past year from the defensive specialist position. Godsell was named to the 2021-2022 NJCAA All-Academic Third Team for her work in the classroom, the second year in a row she has earned this honor.
Godsell is transferring to Western Illinois University this summer, joining teammate Hailey Sperling in Macomb, Illinois.