In the final tune-up before the start of the regular season, the Illini women’s volleyball team will be squaring off against the shadows. The women’s volleyball alumni will be returning to Huff Hall Saturday to compete with the current squad.

“The atmosphere becomes exciting because the legacy that they created is who we are,” senior Lauren Harks said. “I’m excited to play the alumni because we finally get to see the faces of the women that we hear about all the time.”

Head Coach Don Hardin believes that alumni matches are one of the unique aspects of volleyball competition.

“These women continue to compete even after graduation,” Hardin said. “Volleyball is one of the only sports where you can field a competitive team of alumni and bring them back to compete against the current team.”

With the elder statesmen coming back to prove that they still got game, the current team is aiming to improve and keep the hard work flowing. Because of the youth of the team, it is more important to stay focused on the finished product than to worry about some minor mishaps in the preseason.

“The first few games of the season won’t determine how we end,” senior Kathleen Bazzetta said.

Refining the young players is also important for avoiding catastrophe if an injury arises. Last season the Illini were lucky to stay relatively injury-free, but the caution is well deserved.

“We are just ironing out little things especially,” Harks said. “We have to be prepared for injuries, which means having capable players to fill in at all positions. The extra competition is good for the team. It’s like we have two starting teams competing in practice every day.”

Coach Hardin said the team acknowledges they have to continue the hard work to get where they want. He said they are patiently awaiting the beginning of the regular season while taking care of business in practice. For the most part, roster spots are up for grabs, so going into a game situation can help determine a lot for both athletes and coaches alike.

“We have a lot of newcomers and just want to see how they respond to being in a uniform,” Hardin said. “We are looking to see if they can add to good team chemistry. Also, with some of the younger players, we have to try and keep them from spontaneously combusting, or getting so excited they can’t play their game.”

This will be the first game situation most of the squad has gone into in a while and will be the last before the wins and losses count.

“I can’t wait to run out in a jersey in front of the fans,” Bazzetta said. “That feeling you get right before a game is just awesome, there’s nothing else like it.”