ROCHELLE — Abby Kerns thought she was done playing basketball after completing her final season at Rochelle Township High School. But the Lady Hub guard will get a chance to take her game to the next level, and her sister, Ashley Kerns, will be coming along for the ride.

The girls are two of four new recruits who have signed on to compete for the Kiskwaukee College women’s basketball program and head coach Krystal Gundy this coming school year. Both Abby and Ashley joined Belvidere North’s Aneysia Schrader and Sycamore’s Chloe Goff for a group photo earlier this month.

“I’m excited about playing in college,” Ashley said. “I’m sure it will be a lot different than high school. I look forward to getting better and meeting new people. I’m also looking forward to playing at a faster pace.”

“It feels good to continue my basketball career,” Abby added. “I look forward to playing with new teammates and traveling to new places and having new experiences for away games. It will also be interesting to be under a new coach this year.”

Both girls suited up for the Lady Hubs varsity soccer team this spring, and while Ashley didn’t compete for the RTHS varsity girls basketball team this past school year, Abby led the team at the point guard position, helping Rochelle piece together an 11-16 record under head coach Tony Rowan. The sisters have five years of combined varsity experience under their belts, and they’ll aim to lead a Kishwaukee program that is returning to action after not playing during the 2016-17 school year.

“I wanted to join the program because I love playing basketball,” Abby said. “The coach contacted us one day and asked us to go to an open gym so I figured why not go and see if I like it.”

“The coach reached out to both of us and wanted us to play for Kishwaukee,” Ashley continued. “I think I’ll fit great at the guard position, and I think that high school basketball prepared me well.”

While the sisters will wear the same colors when they take the court for the Lady Kougars, they are studying two different subjects off the court. Abby said she plans to pursue nursing, while Ashley said she is aiming to go down the education route. Kishwaukee will play its first game at Rock Valley College on Oct. 14, and its first home game is against Moraine Valley Community College on Nov. 11.

“I’m prepared to work hard and push through the hard practices because that’s what we did in high school,” Abby said. “Coach Rowan has helped me grow the most as an athlete because he wouldn’t ever let us give up… I have always wanted to be a nurse, and I also have my CNA right now and I love that job, so I am excited to further my education so I can continue to help people.”

“I’m planning on either becoming a special education teacher or a grade school teacher but I’m not sure yet,” Ashley followed. “I know I want to do something with education because I enjoy being with kids.”