After two 1-1 road trips, Illinois (2-2) will travel to Normal, Illinois, this Friday for the Linda Herman Classic. It will take on Cincinnati (5-1) and Miami (5-1) on Friday and Saturday and end the tournament facing the hosts, Illinois State (4-2), on Sunday.
The Illini have started the season with prolonged away fixtures. The last two doubleheaders have been challenging, but this weekend’s tripleheader will be the Illini’s toughest test yet. The final stretch of games before they return home will bring to light their strengths and weaknesses.
Season so far
Illinois’ season has been defined by moments and scoring runs. The biggest contributing factors in both of its losses this season were opponent scoring runs. A lot of these runs were fueled by Illinois errors. Evidently, Illinois has made more errors than its opponents in all games except the win against Vanderbilt (2-4).
Hitting percentages have played a major role in Illinois’ victorious sets as well. In six out of Illinois’ eight won sets, the opponents have had a hitting percentage below .200. Both these factors have led to the Illini either leading or trailing by three in eight of their 17 sets.
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In their worst start to a season since 2022, the Illini have played through quite a few close sets. And it is safe to say that their ability to stop scoring runs and outhitting their opponents will go a long way in deciding the Illini’s fate this weekend.
Know your foe
The Linda Herman Classic will see four teams compete over three days. Named after Illinois State’s longtime volleyball coach, Linda Herman, the tournament will see Illinois take part in it for the first time.
Game 1: Cincinnati
The Illini’s first challenge will be the Bearcats on Friday. Starting the season 5-1, the Bearcats are a formidable team. Two of their wins have been straight-set shutdowns, and the other three have been 3-1 beatdowns. Cincinnati has better head-to-head numbers in almost every category against Illinois.
Cincinnati has an overall hitting percentage of .287 compared to .250 for Illinois. The Bearcats and the Illini are 296-223 in kills, 135-146 in errors, 264-207 in assists and 23-26 in aces. A lot of these are due to Cincinnati having played more games, but it’s poised to be a challenging fixture for Illinois.
Game 2: Miami
A Saturday noon start against Miami, who went to the second round of the 2025 NCAA tournament, will be Illinois’ next challenge. The Hurricanes have started the season 5-1, their sole loss coming in the first match of the season.
The Hurricanes have allowed opponents to hit at 0.156 percent whilst hitting at 0.251 percent themselves. The Illini can capitalize on errors, where they have made 146 to the Hurricanes’ 178.
Game 3: Illinois State
Illinois will wrap up the tournament on Sunday against the hosts. Illinois State opens its home season with this weekend’s tournament. Sunday’s matchup will be both teams’ third consecutive game.
The Redbirds have recorded 211 errors, significantly more than the Illini. The afternoon game will be a battle for discipline and consistency. Two tired sets of legs will step onto the court, but the one that will be able to stick to their basics might have the upper hand.
Spotlight players
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Taylor de Boer has been on a rampage this season, leading the team with 60 kills. Despite the loss against No. 3 Louisville (4-1), de Boer exploded for a team-leading 18 kills. She has been an offensive weapon so far and will go a long way in deciding Illinois’ fate this tournament.
Second most in kills and digs, freshman outside hitter Alyssa Aguayo has put on a show so far. Teaming up with de Boer, the rookie has been a vital member of Illinois’ offensive force. This weekend will be another test for Aguayo.
Drowning in assists, junior setter Kenna Phelan has arguably been Illinois’ game plan’s centerpiece. She leads the team with 168 assists, with freshman libero Taryn Kirsch in second place with 17. Phelan has also put up 10 blocks and a team-leading seven aces. The junior has been a reliable performer so far and will play a crucial role in Illinois’ success in Normal.
Stage is set
The Illini have lost both their afternoon games this season, and the tournament will throw three back-to-back such games at them. It will be a test of endurance, discipline and consistency. They have already been on the road for the first two weeks, and this final stretch of away games before their home opener on Sept. 20 will teach them a lot about their identity.
