McAuley Junior Commits to Play Volleyball for Notre Dame

Ryann DeJarld’s summer has quite the ending. 

On August 6, DeJarld verbally committed to playing volleyball for the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

“I am ecstatic about being a part of the Irish family and I love the environment they have to offer me,” she said. “I never expected to be with such a prestigious program as Notre Dame, but I definitely knew I wanted to continue playing after high school.”

DeJarld, a rising junior at Mother McAuley, said volleyball has always been a part of her life—“whether it was just playing with my sister or against the wall,” she said.

In fourth grade, DeJarld joined the volleyball team at St. Barnabas and entered the Michio Chicago Volleyball Academy a year later. She began playing on the varsity volleyball team at McAuley this past year, as a sophomore.

She was part of McAuley’s team that captured the third-place trophy at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena in November 2012. The team was coached by Jen DeJarld—Ryann’s mom.

The DeJarlds have a history of McAuley volleyball. DeJarld said two of her aunts and her mom all played there, and two continued to play in college. Her younger sister is on the junior varsity team at McAuley.

Ed O’Keefe, DeJarld’s coach from Michio, said he’s known her since she was young. “This is great for Ryann, great for Notre Dame,” he said. “She’s an excellent kid, an outstanding volleyball player, and they’re lucky to have her.”

DeJarld said she’s looking forward to making another play for a state title this season. 

“I don’t think this will affect my focus at all for the upcoming season,” DeJarld said. “In fact, I’m glad I am done with the stressful part of the recruiting process, which is deciding where to go!”