Samantha “Sammi” Bunch is a junior volleyball player at Illinois State University, where she excels as a setter and defensive specialist. Hailing from Romeoville, she has been passionate about volleyball since childhood.
“I started playing when I was about 10 and absolutely love the sport,” Bunch shared. “I enjoy going to practice, and when I’m not playing, my friends and I are discussing volleyball. Traveling for matches is also a highlight.”
Bunch comes from a family of athletes. Her parents, Joseph and Carri, were high school athletes, and her older sister played college volleyball. Her brother is currently a pitcher on his college baseball team.
The Redbirds, led by head coach Allie Matters, will kick off Missouri Valley Conference play on Friday, September 27, at CEFCU Arena against Murray State (5-4). Fans are encouraged to wear red in support of the team during this Homecoming weekend match, which begins at 6 p.m. The event will also feature Eras Night, with promotional T-shirts and special activities planned.
Although the Redbirds (5-8) didn’t start the season as they hoped, recent performances show promise. They returned from the 2024 Owls Paradise Classic, hosted by Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, with two wins in three matches, including a five-set victory over Mercer University, securing second place in the tournament.
Bunch remains optimistic about her team’s potential despite early challenges. “We are a close-knit group and all friends,” she said. “I’ve never felt this connected on a college team before. We support and motivate each other.”
Injuries have impacted the team this season, with five players sidelined. “We’re still figuring out our lineup, but the future looks bright,” Bunch noted.
In addition to her athletic pursuits, Bunch is also an aspiring artist. She is majoring in fine arts, focusing on drawing and painting, with a goal of becoming a tattoo artist after college. She already has several tattoos, at least eight in total.
Bunch credits her inspiration to her dad’s best friend, Matt Sopron, who spent over 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. After his exoneration, Sopron opened a tattoo shop in 2018.
“My dad visited Matt in prison and brought back one of his drawings of Derrick Rose. It was so impressive that I’ve never forgotten it,” Bunch recalled. “Matt gave me my first tattoo when I was 16—a tattoo of my sister’s birth flower. We both got each other’s birth flowers.”
This experience solidified Bunch’s desire to pursue a career in tattoo artistry. “Matt is supposed to teach me once I graduate,” she said, expressing her eagerness to start her apprenticeship.
While getting her first tattoo was initially a concern for her mother, her father was fully supportive, having numerous tattoos himself. “Mom eventually accepted it, but Dad has always been cool about my tattoos since he’s covered in them,” she explained.
Bunch is not just an athlete and artist; she has business aspirations as well. “I’d like to own my own shop by the time I’m 30,” she stated.
For now, Bunch is focused on her volleyball season, confident in her team’s abilities. “It’s been a challenging time, but our coaches believe in us and have our backs. We’re aiming for the conference championship and nothing less.”
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