After finishing last season with a disappointing 14-16 record overall (8-12 Big Ten) and missing the NCAA tournament, things won’t be getting easier for Illinois volleyball this season in what head coach Kevin Hambly said is the “toughest schedule in the country.”
The Illini will open up the season in Long Beach, Calif., on Aug. 30 for the Long Beach State Mizuno Invitational, where they will play Florida State, Long Beach State and Kentucky. The Seminoles and Wildcats are two of 15 teams the Illini will face this season that made the 2012 NCAA tournament. Kentucky and Florida State are also ranked Nos. 17 and 18, respectively, in the 2013 AVCA preseason coaches poll.
Three teams that made the Final Four last season will set foot in Huff Hall this year, including defending national champion Texas. Big Ten powerhouses Penn State and Michigan are the remaining Final Four teams making a trip to Champaign.
Hambly said the obstacles lying ahead for the Illini will benefit the team no matter the results.
“There’s lots of benefits (to having a tough schedule),” Hambly said. “The obvious one is to get us more ready for the Big Ten. It helps us RPI-wise — if we have a great season we could end up being seeded very high. If we don’t have a great season and we finish above .500, it’ll help us get into the tournament.
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“We won’t be fooled into believing we’re better than we are because we’ve played quality opponents.”
The Illini will play a match at the State Farm Center this season; Illinois last played a game in the Assembly Hall in 2009. The team will open Big Ten play against Iowa Sept. 27 before taking on Nebraska the following day at Huff Hall. The State Farm Center home match is a prerequisite to hosting the 2013 NCAA Regional semifinals and finals Dec. 13-14, also known as the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. The NCAA tournament begins Dec. 6.
“(Hosting the regionals) is really important if we’re there,” Hambly said. “I think it’s important if we can make it there, and we’ll do everything we can to make it.”
Illini return to action with alumni match
Fans can get their first look at the 2013 squad in the team’s annual Alumni Match Saturday at Huff Hall at 7 p.m. Five true freshmen will make their debut in orange and blue against the alumni, including recruits Michelle Strizak, Katie Stadick, Katie Roustio, Danielle Davis and McKenna Kelsay. Redshirt freshman Maddie Mayers will also play.
Former All-Americans Hillary Haen (2007-10), Colleen Ward (2010-11) and First Team All-Big Ten selection Shadia Haddad (1998-2001) highlight the alumni squad.
Admission to the match is $5 for the general public, $2 for youth and free for students who bring their student IDs. All seating will be general admission.
Birks, McMahon named preseason all-Big Ten
Redshirt sophomore Jocelyn Birks and junior Liz McMahon were selected by coaches to the preseason all-Big Ten team. McMahon’s selection is her second consecutive such honor.
Birks’ selection comes after leading the team last season with 510 kills and 27 aces and finishing second on the team with 262 digs. Birks’ five weekly conference honors set a new team record, and she finished top five nationally in kills and points among all freshmen.
McMahon finished 2012 with 400 kills and 470.5 points, good for second on the team. She finished at third in aces with 16, and had 97 blocks and a .270 hitting percentage.
The announcement came as no surprise to Hambly.
“They are two of the best players in the league, and it was not surprising that they made the team,” he said.
Illinois was voted as the No. 6-ranked team in the Big Ten in a coaches poll. Ahead of the Illini are Penn State, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska and Michigan State.
Illini get 5 televised matches
The Big Ten Network will feature five live Illinois matches this season. The first televised match comes Sept. 28 against Nebraska. The other matches come at Michigan Oct. 5, against Penn State Oct. 18, at Nebraska Oct. 30 and against Michigan Nov. 6.
A majority of matches will also be streamed live online. The match against Ohio State on Oct. 20 and Michigan on Nov. 9 will be streamed on Big Ten Digital Network, as well as seven more matches streaming on Fighting Illini All-Access.
Blake can be reached at [email protected].
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that season ticket passes would not include a ticket to the alumni match. Season passes do include a ticket to the alumni match. The Daily Illini regrets the error.
