Following an NCAA tournament appearance last fall, Illinois returns for its ninth season under head coach Chris Tamas. Although their star outside hitter, Raina Terry, graduated following the 2024 campaign, along with other notable players leaving for greener pastures, optimism still surrounds the Illini.
The 2025 season also begins the celebration of the Huff Hall Centennial, marking a century of history at the corner of Gregory Drive and Fourth Street. This includes 35 seasons of Illini volleyball in the famed building. Here are a few things to keep in mind heading into Illinois’ 36th season at Huff Hall.
Lost in the lights
Illinois lost six seniors from its 2024 roster. This included Terry, defensive specialists Caroline Barnes and Christina Martinez Mundo, middle blockers Sarah Bingham and Kayla Burbage, and setter Raegen Reilly. The team also lost three players in the transfer portal, making the 2025 roster significantly different.
Sophomore defensive specialist Lily Barry transferred to Dayton during the offseason. She finished last season in the top five on the team in digs and service aces. Another significant loss was redshirt junior setter Brooke Mosher to Pittsburgh.
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Mosher led the team in assists (982) and had the second-most digs and service aces. She also finished fifth in both kills and blocks.
The Illini are now without four of their seven starters from the NCAA tournament opener last season. They lost a lot of experience and skill this offseason, but their additions give fans a lot to look forward to.
Changing of the guard
Coach Tamas and management kick-started the transfer portal by adding junior setter Kenna Phelan from Florida State. Phelan brings impressive numbers to Champaign. She recorded 608 assists and averaged 5.2 assists per set in 2024. Phelan also helped carry Florida State to the NCAA tournament last season.
“Kenna is a great leader with great hands and has the ability to run with tempo from just about anywhere,” Tamas wrote in a press release from Illinois Athletics. “She has an excitement and enthusiasm for the game that will also help the winning culture of this team in the years ahead.”
Another high-caliber addition is 6-foot-5 redshirt sophomore opposite Auburn Tomkinson. She transferred from Texas after redshirting her freshman year and not appearing as a sophomore. Before college, Tomkinson was a three-year starter in high school and was named to several All-American teams and watchlists throughout her career.
“Auburn has been at a high level ever since we saw her several years ago as a youth player and through to today,” Tamas said. “She has elite blocking skills, and she has use of a variety of shots that make her a great combination of defense and offense.”
Make or break year?
The Big Ten is a competitive conference. Seven conference teams are in the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s top 25 rankings, with Nebraska and Penn State both receiving first-place votes.
Illinois is going into what could be a make-or-break season. It made the postseason in four of the first five years of coach Tamas’ tenure. However, the tournament has not been a guarantee as of late. The Illini have only ventured there once since 2021.
The first serve
Illinois begins its campaign with two games away from the confines of Huff Hall. The weekend will begin with a neutral site bout in Cedar Falls, Iowa, against South Dakota State on Friday. The team will then trek to Nashville, Tennessee, to take on Vanderbilt Sunday evening.
