Inducted 2004. Won 12 Varsity Letters. Played Four Years of Volleyball at Illinois State. Class of 1994.
Many outstanding female athletes walked the hallways of Quincy Notre Dame in the 1970s and 1980s, and Ridder was the first of the new generation of players who starred for the Lady Raiders during the early 1990s.
Ridder, a 1994 graduate, won 12 varsity letters in basketball, softball and volleyball. She pitched and played shortstop in softball, compiling a .320 career batting average and a 27-11 record with a 1.07 ERA as a pitcher. Ridder is the school’s all-time leading scorer in girls basketball with 1,659 points — more than 300 more than any other player ever — and she was a third-team all-state selection as a junior by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.)
It was in volleyball, however, where Ridder was most successful. On the school record books, she ranks third in kills in a season, second in career kills, first in career blocks and fifth in career points. She was named the team’s MVP as a sophomore, junior and a senior, and she was named The Quincy Herald-Whig’s Player of the Year in 1993. Veteran coach Bill Starkey calls her the second-best female athlete in school history behind Olympian Caren Kemner.
Ridder went on to play four years of volleyball at Illinois State University. She was twice named to the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete team and helped the Redbirds to the MVC championship during her junior year. She now lives in Bloomington and works at Country Insurance and Financial Services as a supervisor in property management administration.
As I look back on my career at Quincy Notre Dame, great memories come to mind immediately. The support and commitment of numerous people have made QND Athletics an honor to be a part of. A big thank you goes out to my coaches, Bill Starkey and Terri Ward. Without their coaching, dedication and commitment to excellence, I know I would not be where I am today. Through sports, I have learned more than just how to play ball. I learned many valuable life lessons through athletics that make me who I am today. In learning those valuable lessons I was not alone. My friends — my teammates — were right beside me through the years. The experiences we had on and off the court and ballfield were so much fun. And last, but certainly not least, I need to thank my parents and family. The support they provided throughout the years was so encouraging and certainly helped me keep things in perspective. Thank you for your time and commitment.