Volleyball: Hasz takes on larger setting role during junior season at EIU

RTHS alum posts career-high 334 assists indoors, wins five matches during 2025 beach volleyball season

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As the Eastern Illinois volleyball team dealt with injuries early in the season, former Rochelle standout Sylvia Hasz stepped up and earned significant playing time at the setter position for the Panthers. After posting career bests in both assists (334) and assists per set (4.39) during her junior season in 2024, Hasz will look to carve out an even greater setting role as a senior.

Hasz recorded double-digit assists in 13 matches and finished with at least 20 assists on eight different occasions. The former Lady Hub student-athlete played 76 sets across 24 matches during her junior season, notching a season-high 42 assists against Austin Peay on Sept. 20. Hasz totaled 116 digs and added a career-best 10 total blocks to go along with seven aces.

“Because of injuries, I was able to come in and set more,” Hasz said. “That was a big difference for me and toward the end of the season, I was serving and playing more in the back row… Before this year, I wasn’t the one setting and I was finding any way I could get on the court, so it was really cool to get that opportunity this year. As a setter, I didn’t see the court much in my first two years and I was on the court in other ways, so I was able to build back my confidence.”

Hasz earned four assist-dig double-doubles during her junior season. The RTHS alum will return this fall as one of EIU’s more experienced players. Over three years, Hasz has accumulated 531 assists, 254 digs and 37 service aces over 64 matches. Although injuries and other obstacles led to some struggles for the Panthers, who finished 9-19 in 2024 after going 28-5 during Hasz’s sophomore campaign in 2023, Hasz and her teammates are aiming for a bounce-back season.

“We had a lot of new girls come in last year,” Hasz said. “We had a young team and being an upperclassman, my role changed. My classmates and I, who’ve been here for three years, stood up and showed everyone how we do things as a team… We didn’t have the season we wanted, but I got more of an opportunity to play and it was awesome. I go out there everyday and try to play as hard as I can and be the best teammate I can be. As I’ve gotten older, the location on my sets have become a lot more consistent. I’ve really focused on consistency.”

In the spring, Hasz returned to the sand for her third season with the EIU beach volleyball team, posting a team-best 5-8 record over 13 matches. After playing at the No. 1 and No. 2 courts during her sophomore season in 2024, Hasz earned starts at the No. 3, 4 and 5 courts as a junior in 2025, winning at least once at each spot. Hasz’s five wins rank second most for a season in EIU history and her 12 career wins through three seasons are second most at EIU.

“Our spring beach season was a good build-up for the fall,” Hasz said. “We had some coaching changes at the beginning of the spring and we were able to learn their coaching style. The spring season is a time for us to get back to the basics and work on our communication. It’s pairs, so partners have to learn how to communicate and problem solve. That part of the game is very useful for us to learn because we’re able to problem solve when we’re out on the court.”

Among the highlights from Hasz’s junior season in beach volleyball was an opening-round win over Morehead State in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship. It was the first and only team victory for the Panthers, who overcame pouring rain to beat the Eagles 3-1, with Hasz and partner Tori Mohesky hanging tough for a 15-21, 21-7, 17-15 win at the No. 3 court. Hasz won four matches at the No. 3 spot during her junior year, which ranks tied for first in EIU history.

“In beach volleyball, there’s a lot of reading and outsmarting the opponents,” Hasz said. “In indoor volleyball, it’s easier to get stuck in your position since there are more people on the court, but in beach volleyball, you may be the only one in the back, so you have to work just as hard and that determination can definitely carry over to the indoor volleyball season.”

Hasz, who’s currently studying marketing with a minor in management, completed a brief job shadow at the REC Center in Rochelle before heading back to campus to begin training for her senior season of indoor volleyball this coming fall. After finishing her degree, Hasz said she intends to pursue a graduate assistant coaching position or a marketing career in volleyball.