After sweeping No. 16 Ohio State at home last weekend, Illinois (12-6, 3-5) is prepared to attempt the same feat against No. 9 Purdue in West Layafette tonight.

After their matches against Purdue, Illinois will travel across the state to Bloomington to face Indiana Saturday.

“We’re away (this weekend) so it’s going to be a test to see if we can bring that same type of game and energy on the road,” sophomore setter Lizzie Bazzetta said.

The Illini are in a four-way tie with Ohio State, Northwestern and Michigan for sixth place in the Big Ten. With a lot of congestion in the middle of the Big Ten standings, Illinois hopes to break into the top half with wins from this weekend’s trip.

Bazzetta said the energy from winning this past weekend has carried over into this week’s practice.

She said the team has pushed themselves this week in order to insure a strong weekend performance on the road.

“We had an awesome weekend, and it proves that we can start beating ranked teams in the Big Ten,” junior middle blocker Vicki Brown said. “We want to try to have that competitiveness this weekend.”

As they face the ninth-best team in the nation, the Illini will need a competitive spirit.

Brown said since the team is not at home, its energy will come from the players on the court, not the crowd.

Purdue’s court is a hard court to play on, Bazzetta said, as only one of Purdue’s four losses on the season was at home.

“It will be a tough match, but if we can bring competitiveness and energy to every single game – every single point – then I think good things can happen,” Bazzetta said.

Head coach Don Hardin said Purdue and Illinois have a history of “unpredictable” matches where either team has the ability to upset the other regardless of Big Ten ranking.

“We’ve had a couple of wins over some really good teams,” Hardin said. “I think this match (against Purdue) will be unpredictable.”

The Illini will have an emotional match Saturday versus Indiana, Hardin said.

A win or a loss to the Boilermakers may affect the Illini’s performance Saturday. Hardin said his team will need to relax and keep its focus to not let the previous day affect the following matches.

Sophomore outside hitter Kayani Turner will most likely be on the sidelines again this weekend, Hardin said. She has been experiencing pain in her leg and is currently undergoing treatment.

“The treatment may offer Turner some long-term solutions if they work,” Hardin said. “We have to take the risk and give her some extended time for her treatments to take effect.”

At the completion of the weekend, The Big Ten will be half way through its conference play, and each team will have played each other conference foe at least once.

After Sunday, Big Ten teams will begin trying to avenge first-half losses, while others will attempt to hold on to winning records, as they face each conference opponent for the second time.