Whitman Hall of Fame
Jillian (Huber) DeBritz began earning Whitman recognition even before setting foot on its campus. The top-tier volleyball recruit began her career as the awardee of a Sherwood Scholar, presented to outstanding incoming students to the college.
Upon hitting the court, Huber marched her way toward four All-Northwest Conference awards -- second team in 2000, 2001 and 2002, and a first-team selection in 2003 -- as a four-year starter for the Missionaries.
Huber piled up 341 total blocks as a middle blocker over her career, a figure that since her graduation has only been surpassed by two Whitman athletes. It was Jillian’s prowess on the attack, however, that lifted her name to the top of one particular category in the record book -- Whitman’s career leader in kills with 1,306.
If the rarity of a middle blocker leading a program in kills is not distinguishable enough, there is also Huber’s all-around play within the rotation. At the time of her induction she ranks second in program history in service aces (161), third in blocks and sixth in digs (989).
Huber was a linchpin in establishing Whitman as a competitive volleyball program, forcing opponents to account for her wherever she was stationed on the court. Then-head Coach Dean Snider noted, “I am certain that her teammates would agree, as kind a person as she is, Jillian was a consistent and formidable force to be reckoned with on the court. We counted on her every game and every game, Jillian delivered.”
