2012 (Junior): Another splendid season for Edwards resulted in her second consecutive AVCA All-Atlantic Region First Team selection in addition to spots on the Daktronics All-Atlantic Region Second Team and All-PSAC East First Team. In her junior campaign, Edwards set the school record for career kills, surpassing Alyssa Kilgore (1,339), and now sits at 1,499 kills. This season, Edwards hit .199 overall while recording a team-high 474 kills to rank third on the all-time list for kills in a single season. Edwards also sits first and fourth on the all-time single-season kills list with 567 in her sophomore season and 458 her freshman season. Her 4.3 points per set average ranked 35th in Division II while her 3.73 kills per set average ranked 42nd in Division II. In addition to her hitting accolades, Edwards also excelled defensively as she posted a career-high 363 digs, ranking second on the Raiders. With 1,023 career digs through three years, Edwards has become the fifth Raider to join the 1,000-1,000 club for recording 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. During the regular season, Edwards was twice named the PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Week, first after a 38-kill, 23-dig weekend in early October and once again following a 30-kill, 18-dig weekend in late October. In 26 matches, Edwards ripped double-digit kills. She saved her two best outings of the year for last, totaling a season-high 26 kills in the PSAC Semifinals against Gannon and 25 in the NCAA Tournament versus California (Pa.). Additionally, in 11 matches, Edwards posted a hitting efficiency of .250 or greater – including a .379 mark on 12 kills versus West Chester and a .303 rate with 13 kills at Kutztown. Her season high for digs was 21 in the opening weekend versus LIU Post; she finished the season with double-digit digs in 22 contests. Academically, for the second consecutive year, Edwards was named to the 2012-13 Capital One Academic All-District 2 Team.
2011 (Sophomore): Edwards emerged as one of the best outside hitters in the country after leading the conference and setting a single-season school record with 567 kills (141 more than any other player in the league and 12th-most in PSAC history). Edwards racked in the accolades at the conclusion of the season: Daktronics Atlantic Region Volleyball Player of the Year and selections to the All-PSAC First Team, American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Atlantic Region First Team and the Capital One Academic All-District Team. Edwards, whose single-season kills mark shattered the previous record by 78 while ranking her 13th in NCAA Division II in kills per set (4.3), also set the single-match kills record with 35 in an early-season five-set loss to Seton Hill. Overall, Edwards posted a .229 hitting percentage despite an overwhelming 1,544 attempts. She contributed nine or more kills in every regular season match, including double-digit kills in 32 of 33 regular season matches, and added 20 or more kills in six matches (including two with 30 or more). Defensively, Edwards totaled 311 digs (2.4 per set) and 39 blocks. She posted double-digit digs in 13 matches while also adding 21 aces on the season. Edwards is just the sixth player in school history to reach 1,000 kills and the only player in school history to do so by her sophomore season. She was a four-time recipient of the PSAC Eastern Division Volleyball Athlete of the Week award.
2010 (Freshman): After one season of competition, Edwards was named the PSAC Eastern Division Rookie of the Year and earned All-PSAC First Team and Daktronics All-Atlantic Region Second Team honors. At the conclusion of the regular season, Edwards led the PSAC in total kills with 458 – the second-highest, single-season total in SU history. She recorded double-digit kills in 29 of 35 matches; ranked second on the team with 339 digs, and had 15 double-doubles with kills and digs. Overall, Edwards finished the regular season ranked 39th in Division II in kills per set and impressed with a .229 hitting percentage for the season. She was a two-time PSAC East Player of the Week for a Raider squad that reached the PSAC quarterfinals. Edwards played in 33 matches and produced multiple kills in all of them. With the exception of a one-set cameo against Glenville State, Edwards ripped five or more kills in all of her appearances, including double-digit kills in 26 matches. Her first PSAC Player of the Week award came on October 19 after a 53-kill performance in a 4-0 week. A second PSAC Player of the Week award occurred November 9 after ripping a team-high 34 kills and hitting .271 in a 2-0 week. Edwards totaled a season-high 22 kills in the season-opening victory against Lenoir-Rhyne and had 20 or more kills in five matches. She recorded a season-high 24 digs against Alderson-Broaddus and 10 or more digs in 18 games. Additionally, Edwards had at least one service ace in 18 matches.
Panther Creek High School: Edwards was a four-year varsity letter winner for the Catamounts under head coach Bonnie O’Connor, thriving as an outside hitter. She was a three-time all-conference performer and led her team in kills during all four of her seasons with the team. As a junior and a senior, Edwards served as a co-captain. For three seasons she also competed for club team Triangle Volleyball Club, including two years under head coach Robin Bugg and serving as a team captain in her senior season. Her club teams qualified for the USA Junior National Volleyball Championships in four consecutive years. Club honors have included selections on several all-tournament teams as well as the privilege of competing for the state’s high-performance team. Scholastically, Edwards earned the Teacher’s Choice award in Spring 2009, Raleigh Sports Club Scholar-Athlete designation in November 2009 and was on the A/B Honor Roll.
Personal: Jill Allison Edwards is the daughter of Rick and Karen Edwards. She is majoring in supply chain management. Edwards has a sister, Kimberly. Her father played golf for the University of Illinois.
