Line a success on and off the volleyball court

Ali Line doesn’t mind that her accomplishments on the volleyball court are being dwarfed by what she does away from it.

The Illinois State senior prefers it that way.

A Center Grove graduate, Line continues to build a legacy of generosity wrapped around a fierce competitiveness in whatever she does.

About to enter her fourth season as a Redbird starter, the 6-foot-1 middle blocker carries a 4.0 grade-point average as a nursing major. She’s a leader in all areas who is able to motivate by example or through kind words and gestures.

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“Ali is an unspoken leader,” second-year Illinois State coach Leah Johnson said. “I’ll have younger players come into my office and say, ‘Ali texted me and said I had a great practice.’ She does all that without being asked.

“She really brings the pieces together. It’s so instinctual for her to be a giver. Ali has the heart of a servant leader.”

There’s more. With Line, there usually is.

In July, Line was selected as a Robert G. Bone Scholar for the 2018-19 school year. She is only the 25th student-athlete in Illinois State history to win the award named for Bone, the Illinois State president from 1956-67.

The Bone Scholarship is awarded to 14 undergraduate students annually. Recipients are chosen because of academic achievement while displaying character and leadership.

Winning one isn’t easy. As part of the selection process, Line turned in a portfolio including four essays, four letters of recommendation and a project related to nursing.

“It was really neat because I was recognized by nursing faculty,” Line said of being one of the scholarship winners. “I kind of was surprised. They only choose 14 students, and it’s not common for athletes to win it.”

Between studies, volleyball practices and the numerous road matches — the Redbirds open the regular season Aug. 24 at the Benson Invitational in Athens, Georgia — Line is left with precious little down time.

Nonetheless, she volunteers at the Community Health Care Clinic for the medically underserved in McLean County, Illinois. Line also gives her time to an infusions center at OSF Hospital and a local community center as often as possible.

“I attribute it to her faith. That seems to be holding everything together,” said Don Line, Ali’s father. “She’s always reading Christian books and does a devotion every day. Ali stays quiet about it and tries to let God’s light shine through her.

“But she’s also had a drive and a competitiveness for as long as I can remember.”

Don Line laughs thinking about how he would get his exercise by swimming laps in the family’s pool. If he swam 20 laps, Ali swam 21. If dad completed 25 laps, she would do 26.

“When Ali was about 4, she was getting ready to play a basketball game and had her head down on the table,” Don said. “I asked her what was the matter, and she lifted her head and said, ‘What if I lose?’ ”

Ali Line was named the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year as a Trojans senior following the 2014 volleyball season. She had offers to play at several schools, but felt Illinois State would be the best fit in all aspects.

That disappointed Johnson, then the volleyball coach at SIU-Edwardsville. Johnson eventually got Line on her roster, though, when she was named Illinois State’s volleyball coach in June 2017.

Johnson’s first ISU squad finished 22-13, making it to the second round of the National Invitational Tournament before losing to Green Bay in four sets. Line finished her junior season second on the team in blocks and kills.

She was named Missouri Valley Conference All-Academic first team.

“Ali’s a volleyball player, but when I was recruiting her I remembered her as a person,” Johnson said. “She’s thrived here. Ali doesn’t just go through the motions.”

This isn’t to say the transition from high school to college was easy. There was the initial homesickness, plus some injury troubles, that prevented Line from performing to her caliber during ISU’s 2015 season.

Once comfortable in new surroundings, Line flourished.

“Coming into college, you want to just get on the court,” Line said. “It’s very individualized. Now I see the impact you can make. There’s so much more to it than volleyball.”