Former Maryland volleyball libero Amy Dion endured the team’s transition from the Atlantic Coast Conference to the Big Ten, one of the nation’s premier leagues.
Despite the uptick in competition, Dion bonded with her teammates and helped her new coach, Steve Aird, rebuild the Terps. Those relationships continued after graduation.
“I still talk weekly with them all, and I’m watching everything I can,” Dion said.
Throughout her senior season, Dion was a fourth grade student teacher at Montpelier Elementary in Laurel, a valuable experience she said prepared her for current job. Now, Dion teaches a sixth grade class of 23 at Stuart R. Paddock Elementary School in Palatine, Illinois.
Dion is still involved with volleyball, working with her former junior varsity coach Michelle Jakubowski at nearby Barrington High School.
She’s also pleased with her location, as she is within driving distance of several Big Ten schools. While Dion said she won’t make it down to College Park this season, she already has plans to attend Maryland’s away matches against Wisconsin, Northwestern and Illinois.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” Dion said. “They’re making such progress and getting better all the time.”
