Myles looks to improve in second year
By Nithin Reddy, Staff Writer
October 22, 2020
Sophomore forward Kennedi Myles is coming off of a solid freshman campaign for the Illinois women’s basketball team. In her first season, Myles set the team’s freshman record for double-doubles and finished third on the team in scoring. Unfortunately for the Illini, those numbers did not help the ...
Illini see top pitchers, hitters return after shortened spring season
By Carson Gourdie, Assistant Sports Editor
October 19, 2020
Lights-out pitching and timely hitting made the Illinois softball team competitive last season, as they finished the coronavirus-shortened season with an 11-11 record. While the team had its ups and downs — losing five out of seven games in the middle of the season— Illinois has an advantage this...
Fahey, Illini start off practices with optimism
By Nithin Reddy, Staff Writer
October 17, 2020
The Illinois women’s basketball team had its first day of official practice on Wednesday. Just one day in, head coach Nancy Fahey can already tell that her team will be quite different than the Illini team from a season ago. After struggling with size in 2019, the Illini looked primed to fare be...
Freshmen class adapt to college, fall season without competition
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
October 12, 2020
With the graduation of a couple of several key players, including defenders Alicia Barker and Lexi Carrier, goalkeeper Jaelyn Cunningham, midfielder Arianna Veland and forward Kelly Maday, Illinois soccer head coach Janet Rayfield brought in seven freshmen for the 2024 class. The freshmen class inc...
Rubin brings post threat, experience to Illini
By Nithin Reddy, Staff Writer
October 12, 2020
The Illinois women’s basketball team struggled to compete in the paint a season ago, ranking last in the Big Ten in rebounding margin and scoring inside the arc. Head coach Nancy Fahey and the Illini are hoping Eva Rubin is the answer to the Illini’s interior woes. “She’s a stopper at the basket that’s ...
Townes looks for breakout sophomore season
By Jonah Perez, Staff Writer
October 12, 2020
Mia Townes, a sophomore from Texas, had an unusual first year at Illinois. Her freshman campaign was difficult due to injury, filled with surgeries and setbacks. “It was my senior year in high school ... I ruptured my Achilles during the warmup of our competition,” Townes said. “I was warming u...
Tamas prepares young team for spring season
By Wes Hollenberg, Staff Writer
October 8, 2020
On Sept. 21, the NCAA Division I Council approved pushing the volleyball season to the spring, with a regular season start date of Jan. 22 and a 48-team postseason tournament rather than the typical 64. While many players and fans were disappointed to have the season flexed to the spring, the extra time ...
Illini get new backcourt following departure of two starters
By Nithin Reddy, Staff Writer
October 5, 2020
The Illinois women’s basketball team lost six players from a season ago. Most notably, the departure of the Illini’s starting backcourt, Brandi Beasley and Petra Holešínská, created a big hole in the upcoming team’s starting lineup. Head coach Nancy Fahey does not think she needs to replace...
Rayfield’s rich soccer history helps Illinois succeed
By Angelle Cortes, Staff Writer
October 1, 2020
Illinois soccer head coach Janet Rayfield has an extensive history in soccer. She’s been head coach for almost 20 years and has been one of the most successful coaches in program history. However, even before her time at Illinois, she played collegiate soccer in an era where women’s soccer isn't...
Early ESPN rankings show tough road for Illini
By Carson Gourdie, Assistant Sports Editor
October 1, 2020
After an abrupt end last spring, women’s college basketball is around the corner, and ESPN released their Way-Too-Early rankings for the 2020-2021 season. Although head coach Nancy Fahey and her Illini didn’t crack the list, the ranking shows what could be in store for the fourth-year head coach...
Shorter practices may be Illini’s secret to success
By Wes Hollenberg, Staff Writer
September 30, 2020
A typical Illinois volleyball practice looks different from most college programs across the country for one key reason: brevity. Head coach Chris Tamas has brought a ‘less-is-more’ philosophy to the program and now has the results to back it up. One of Tamas’ goals when designing practices is to match th...
Megan Cooney ready for final run with Illini
By Wes Hollenberg, Staff Writer
September 23, 2020
Illinois senior Megan Cooney is a true veteran. The easy-going outside/opposite hitter has seen Illinois volleyball at some of its highest and lowest points over the past few years, but now she may face her toughest challenge: adapting to change within the program. Illinois volleyball has changed in quite a f...
