Mckenzie Hecht to play volleyball and softball at Sauk

Mckenzie Hecht was in the Prouty Gym lobby at Princeton High School when teammate Maya Gartin signed to play volleyball for Sauk Valley Community College two weeks ago.

PHS coach Andy Puck introduced her to Sauk coach Jay Howell and asked him if he was still looking for an outside hitter. He was and invited Hecht to a practice the next day and it proved to be great match.

Hecht signed Monday to not only play volleyball for Sauk, but also for softball, getting a 2 for 1 deal.

“When I was practicing with the team, I could feel myself playing for that program and all the girls were super nice and welcoming. Coach Howell was very nice and really helpful in learning more about the school and volleyball program,” Hecht said. “I did another visit to learn more about the school and meet with the softball coach and it seemed like a good fit for me. It had a very homey feeling.”

Hecht said she likes how she’s able to stay close to home and still gain some independence by staying in an apartment.

“With it being only an hour away, I am still able to come home and hopefully watch some of my sisters games as Makayla will be coming into high school,” she said. “Overall, it seemed like a good fit being able to accommodate my major and being able to play two of the sports I love.”

Hecht was a First Team All-BCR and Three Rivers All-Conference selection her senior season in volleyball as she was in softball last year. She was the 2020-21 BCR Female Athlete of the Year as well as this year’s BCR Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Hecht, who plans to enroll in Sauk’s accounting and business program, received a full athletic scholarship.

She becomes the fourth member Princeton’s regional volleyball champions to sign collegiately, following Gartin to Sauk along with Katie Bates (Loras College) and Madison Richards (Eureka College). Puck anticipates as many as two more seniors to join the list.