Final Four Notebook: A closer look at Illinois’ journey
By Eli Schuster, Sports Editor
December 14, 2018
Filed under Sports, Sports Top Stories, Volleyball, Women's Sports
One last ride For seniors Jordyn Poulter, Ali Bastianelli and Blayke Hranicka, a Final Four loss marked the last time the three would compete together in an Illini uniform. Embracing after the game, the players met with their teammates at center court, tears in their eyes. "I think you think about the thing...
Illinois drops heartbreaker to Cornhuskers in Final Four
By Eli Schuster, Sports Editor
December 13, 2018
Filed under Sports, Sports Top Stories, Volleyball, Women's Sports
In 2016, assistant coach Chris Tamas walked off the Nationwide Arena court in Columbus, Ohio after a Final Four loss sent the Nebraska Cornhuskers home. Two years later, the now head coach for Illinois volleyball walked off the Final Four court at the Target Center in Minneapolis with the same result,...
Unfamiliar venue will pose challenge for Illinois
By Brian Binz, Staff Writer
December 13, 2018
Filed under Sports, Top Stories, Volleyball, Women's Sports
Whether the Illinois volleyball team likes it or not, this weekend marks the end of the road for their storybook season. With very few expecting them to challenge for a Big Ten title, they put together one of the best seasons any team in Champaign has had in years, riding a second-place Big Ten finish ...
Tamas to face off against familiar program
December 13, 2018
Filed under Sports, Volleyball, Women's Sports
As the Illini head to Minneapolis for the Final Four for the first time since 2011, the program enters territory unfamiliar to every member of the team. For perspective, the last time the Illini made it to the national semifinals, the oldest members of the current team, seniors Jordyn Poulter, ...
Team now prepares to play 2017 champions
By Miles Powers-Huang, Staff Writer
December 10, 2018
Filed under Showcase, Sports, Top Stories, Volleyball, Women's Sports
Final Four-bound Although he’s typically known as a calm and cool personality, Illinois head volleyball coach Chris Tamas couldn’t hold back tears while reflecting on his team’s journey to qualify for the Final Four in his second season with the program. “To do it as a head coach, just t...
Illinois volleyball players come straight from the comics
By Eli Schuster, Sport Editor
December 10, 2018
Filed under Sports, Volleyball, Women's Sports
First of all, I would like to apologize for any awkward eye contact. When I reminisce about my experience with the Illinois volleyball program, I can’t help but think about the numerous amounts of time I’ve locked eyes with one of the players and come up blank. Interviewing athletes has become ...
Win secures Final Four spot
By Eli Schuster, Sports Editor
December 8, 2018
Filed under Showcase, Sports, Sports Top Stories, Top Stories, Volleyball, Women's Sports
Beth Prince, Jordyn Poulter and Blayke Hranicka sat on the bench laughing as the clock on the Huff Hall scoreboard ticked under the 30-minute pregame mark. Two hours and 14 minutes later, the three would meet again but piled in a group hug and accompanied by their teammates, celebrating the Illinois...
Illinois headed to Elite 8 after sweep of Marquette
By Brian Binz, Staff Writer
December 7, 2018
Filed under Sports, Sports Top Stories, Volleyball, Women's Sports
Despite an unusual 11 a.m. start time, the Illinois women’s volleyball team continued its postseason run with a sweep over Marquette. The Illini got a strong performance in all aspects of the game to clinch a spot in the program's seventh-ever Elite Eight that will take place at Huff Hall on Saturday. For...
Illinois to play Friday in Sweet 16
By Rachel Spencer, Staff Writer
December 6, 2018
Filed under Sports, Volleyball, Women's Sports
NCAA tournament play will return to Huff Hall this Friday as the Illinois volleyball team competes for a spot in Saturday’s regional final. Illinois advanced to this weekend’s competition after beating tourney newcomer Eastern Michigan on Friday in three sets and Louisville on Saturday in fo...
Volleyball stays on winning track
By Meghan Rest, Assistant sports editor
December 6, 2018
Filed under Sports, Volleyball, Women's Sports
The 2018 season marks Illinois volleyball’s second-consecutive trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 under second-year head coach Chris Tamas. But the NCAA tournament isn’t unfamiliar territory for the Illini. The 44-year-old program has made 25 NCAA appearances and clinched four Big Ten conference titles sin...
Illinois tops Louisville, heads to Sweet 16
By Brain Binz, Staff writer
December 3, 2018
Filed under Sports Top Stories, Top Stories, Volleyball
After breezing through Eastern Michigan during the first round of the NCAA tournament at Huff Hall, the No. 1-seed Illinois volleyball team faced a more challenging test in round two. Fresh off a three-game sweep of Dayton, the Louisville Cardinals found themselves in a position very similar to one ...
Illinois blocks NCAA competition in home victories
December 3, 2018
Filed under Volleyball
It is unlikely any team wants to face the Illini at Huff Hall. While the venue is known for its various fan nights — including the ever-popular Stuff Huff and IlliNOISE Night — the crowd for Friday’s NCAA tournament match was nothing short of impressive. Attendance was just over 4,000 and a major...
