Chambana Sun

Illinois volleyball has announced the addition of Christine Pullen to its roster for the upcoming season. Head coach Chris Tamas confirmed her inclusion on Friday, along with five other newcomers: Kenzie Cogan, Christina Martinez Mundo, Ashlyn Philpot, Raegen Reilly, and Laynie Smith.

Christine Pullen hails from Naperville, Illinois, and attended Benet Academy. She is a defensive specialist standing at 5-foot-6 and played for the 1st Alliance Club team. During her high school career, she was a three-year varsity letter winner and served as team captain in her senior year. Her team finished as state runner-up in both 2022 and 2023. Pullen earned an Honorable Mention for the Naperville Sun Girls All-Area Team in 2023 and was recognized as Academic Girls All-State that same year.

Coach Chris Tamas expressed his confidence in Pullen's abilities: "In our time evaluating Christine, she has shown she has a feel for the ball as a passer and the tenacity you need on the defensive end. She has played on many winning teams both in high school and club. Christine will be a great addition to our back-row play and as a teammate."

Pullen shared her reasons for choosing Illinois: "I wanted to play at a big school with strong academics. My sister, two uncles, aunt, and six cousins attended Illinois. Many of my family conversations bleed Blue and Orange! I am super excited to play Big Ten volleyball! The amazing coaches and FamILLy environment made it an easy choice."

Pullen's past achievements include being named one of the Top High School Players in the Class of 2024 by Illinois Prep Volleyball. Her club team ranked second nationally and achieved notable finishes at USAV Nationals over consecutive years.