Last Friday, St. Charles North Hayley Burgdorf visited Penn State, her college home, to watch the Big Ten game between the Nittany Lions and Michigan State.
As she played in three games and interacted with her future teammates, one thought kept running through her mind.
“I talked to all the girls and said, ‘I literally can’t wait to get there,’” Burgdorf said.
The Beacon-News/Courier-News' 2025 Volleyball Player of the Year won't have to wait long. Burgdorf, a three-time player of the year, will leave for Happy Valley on Jan. 8.
It's not uncommon for players of her caliber (Burgdorf, ranked No. 29 nationally and the top recruit from Illinois in the 2025 class), to graduate early and gain an advantage at the college level.
Burgdorf made this decision shortly after she verbally committed to Penn State in the summer of 2024.
“I was always on guard, even before recruiting started,” Burgdorf said. “The more I looked into it, the more I asked if there was a way to graduate early. I had all the credits.”
Coach St. Charles North Lindsay Hawkins noted that in order for Burgdorf to have the opportunity to play as a freshman, this was the best decision.
“Not a lot of girls make it, but at this level most kids come in early and get a semester of training with the team under their belt,” Hawkins said. “It gives you the added advantage of being on the court as a freshman.”
This is her goal – to give herself the opportunity to immediately contribute to a multi-year national program.
Finally becoming the oldest player on the team, Burgdorf immediately returns to essentially playing at a higher level, something she has done since she was 11 years old.
Only this time she's competing against other Americans.
“It’s crazy that I have to go back to school, but the mentality is that I have the opportunity to take advantage of it and be confident all the time,” Burgdorf said. “You have to work for this position.
“Once they see that I have it and realize that when they put me out there I can be a star, I'll have a chance.”
Hawkins confirmed that Burgdorf is at his best when faced with adversity.
“She was always kind of the underdog trying to compete with the older kids,” Hawkins said. “It wasn't until her freshman year that she became one of the seniors. I think she developed the mentality of, 'Oh, you don't think I can do this?' Let me show you.”
“She always had a problem on her shoulder.”
It would be foolish to discount her. Burgdorf graduated as the winningest player in North Stars program history. A first-team all-state selection and two-time Duquesne Conference Player of the Year, she finished her career with 1,658 kills, 758 digs and 162 aces, all program records.
“The likelihood of me coaching an athlete at that level again is unlikely,” Hawkins said. “It's so rare. She's such a person, my kids have such a special relationship with her. It was amazing.”
“They're already talking about going to Penn State to watch her play. It's more than just volleyball. It's who she is and what she means to my family. It's definitely going to be tough.”
Burgdorf couldn't have asked for a stronger connection than she had with Hawkins.
“I can always go to her,” Burgdorf said. “She's almost like my second mother.”
A trip to Orlando on New Year's Day for the Under Armor All-American Game will be the last hurray before Burgdorf begins the next chapter of her journey.
“It's sad,” she said. “I can't believe I was a freshman four years ago. I can't believe it's ending, but I'll definitely keep in touch.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
