CHAMPAIGN — Matt Bollant first took notice of Ashley McConnell before he arrived at Illinois.
The fifth-year Illini coach has kept close tabs on her in the ensuing years since the Palatine Fremd product caught Bollant’s eye at a summer camp at Green Bay, Bollant’s previous employer, between her sophomore and junior year of high school.
“You could immediately see how smart she is and what a good feel for the game she has,” Bollant said. “That’s how the recruiting process started, and then I came to Illinois. She knew she was going to come and be a walk-on here, and then we had a scholarship open up her first year.