2009: Lauren Billo led the SAC with a .317 hitting percentage as a junior, while ranking second in the conference with 3.52 kills per set. She was a first team All-SAC selection, while also earning All-Region honors and honorable mention All-American honors. Billo was named to the All-SAC Tournament team as well. She had double-digit kills in 26 of her 38 matches in 2009. Billo racked up 21 kills in the 3-0 win over Limestone on the first day of the season, hitting .486. She had 17 kills to help Wingate rally from a 2-0 deficit against Flagler, followed by a 16-kill performance against three-time national champion Barry. Billo hit .438 with 16 kills in a sweep at Brevard, followed by a 12-kill, 10-dig performance against Lander. She had 17 kills to help Wingate rally back to defeat Carson-Newman. Billo had 18 kills and a .472 hitting percentage in the SAC Tournament quarterfinal win against Brevard. She followed that with a career-high 22 kills while hitting .391 in the semifinal win over Catawba. Billo racked up 15 kills and hit .423 in the sweep over Carson-Newman in the NCAA Regional semifinals.
2008: Billo was a Second Team All-SAC selection, ranking second on the team with 2.60 kills per set. She was fourth on the team with 29 blocks while adding 90 digs on the year. She had double-digit kills in 13 matches, while racking up a double-double against USC Aiken with 11 kills and 10 digs. Billo had 14 kills and hit .519 in a win at Newberry. She had 16 kills and a .412 hitting percentage in the SAC Tournament win over Newberry. Billo had 12 kills in the first round of the Southeast Regional Tournament against Anderson while racking up 17 in the regional semifinals against Catawba.
2007: Billo appeared in 72 games her freshman season, averaging 2.25 kills per game for the Bulldogs. She had double-digit kills in six matches. Billo led the team in kills in her collegiate debut, and was named to the Wingate Invitational all-tournament team. She had 11 kills, six digs, three aces and two blocks against Limestone. She had 10 kills and seven digs against Mars Hill. Billo racked up a career-high 15 kills against Catawba, while hitting .423 and adding five digs. She collected 14 kills in a win over conference foe Lincoln Memorial.
High School: Billo was a team captain and an All-State hitter for Carl Sandburg High School, a highly regarded Illinois prep program. During the summer of 2006, Billo led her Lions Juniors team to a National Division silver medal at the 2006 Junior Olympics in Atlanta. In the same event, she was named All-Tournament. In 2004, Billo was a key hitter on the Celtic Force team that claimed the Junior Olympic Open National Championship in the 15-and-under division.
Coach Collier: “Last season, Lauren was without question the top outside hitter in the conference, and certainly one of the best in the entire region. She posted an impressive hitting percentage, and often was a dominating player. I am sure she will have an excellent senior season.”
Personal:
Favorite sports team: DA Bears!
Most memorable sports moments: Winning gold medal at Junior Olympics and back to back SAC championships
Favorite movie: The Notebook
Career Goals: P.E. Teacher and coach
Favorite Class at Wingate: Team sports skills
How Lauren gets ready for a match: Massages with Liz, sit in fifth seat on bench and get up at same time as Stormi and Maggie, always wear pink or silver bow, and handshakes
Favorite Food: Chicago pizza
Nicknames: LB, Lo
Favorite Quote: "Some things fall apart so other things can get together, but in the end what is meant to be will always find a way"
Something most people don't know about Lauren is that she: wants to be a massage therapist
