Chambana Sun

Illinois volleyball has announced the addition of Lara Žigic to its 2025 roster. The Serbian player joins seven other newcomers for the upcoming season.

Žigic has a notable background in volleyball, having been a member of the Serbian Youth National Team. She participated in her first Balkan Championship for U18 and was named Best Libero while winning the Cadet Championship in both 2022 and 2023. Her achievements include earning titles at the World Championship for U19 and the U20 European Championship, as well as qualifying for U20 BVA. Žigic has also competed in the Serbian Super League and Serbian Cup.

Coach Tamas expressed his enthusiasm about Žigic's addition to the team: "Lara has a ton of high-level experience both with her national team and Serbian league. I've watched her play for the past two years and, for her age, she has played with and against the best in her country and around the world. We look forward to helping her learn and grow to reach her ultimate goal of being an Olympian."

Žigic shared her reasons for choosing Illinois: "I'm excited to announce my commitment to play volleyball at the University of Illinois! I chose Illinois because the team competes in one of the top conferences in the country, and the coaching staff's international experience and vision perfectly align with my goals as a student-athlete. I can't wait to join the Illini family!"