Illinois women’s volleyball will play against Indiana on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Bloomington, Indiana, as its Big Ten season opener.
The Illini are led by head coach Chris Tamas while the Hoosiers have head coach Steve Aird at the helm. Illinois is currently at a season record of 5-5, while Indiana is sitting at 10-3.
The all-time series between Indiana and Illinois favors Champaign-Urbana by a staggering margin, 74-18. During the last meeting between the teams, however, the Hoosiers claimed the 3-1 triumph over the Illini.
The Hoosiers have won seven straight matches, starting from Sept. 8. Last weekend, the team went 4-0 at the 305 Challenge, dropping just two sets the entire outing. Preseason All-Big Ten selection junior setter Camryn Haworth leads the nation with 33 service aces and 0.77 aces per set average. As a team, Indiana ranks ninth nationally with 2.28 aces per set and 98 total aces on the year.
However, the Illini are just as stacked with ace players. Senior outside hitter Raina Terry is currently ranked in the top 10 nationally in several categories. Terry comes into the week sixth nationally in attacks per set (12.35) and points per set (5.3). Terryʼs 185 total kills are first in the conference and 16th nationally, while her 494 total attacks also pace the Big Ten and is 18th in the country. With 212 total points, Terry currently sits at the top of the league standings and 19th in all of Division I. In the Illinois career rankings, Terry sits in 13th all-time with 1,280 career kills.
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Additionally, Illinois volleyball was picked to finish seventh in the league standings in 2023, the conference announced in late July. The Illini are working hard to make their way up those standings with their determination leading them.
The Illini are in good hands with Tamas at the forefront. In his time with the program, Tamas has made an impressive impact on Illinois volleyball and owns an overall record of 120-72 (.630), including a 69-49 (.585) mark in the nationʼs toughest volleyball league, the Big Ten Conference, as well as four NCAA tournament appearances, including three NCAA regional appearances and a trip to the Final Four in 2018.
With the Illini having the support from an amazing coaching staff and a committed mindset, they are in great shape to take on Indiana at tomorrow night’s game. Fans can look forward to seeing Illinois’ Big Ten season opener in hopes of celebrating a win
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