The Illini had one more test before the start of the volleyball season: Beat their former teammates.

Illinois was able to do just that, starting the year with the annual Alumni Game on Saturday night at Huff Hall. It took a while for Illinois to get going, but the Illini eventually beat the alumni in three sets.

“I thought we started out very tentative, very nervous,” head coach Kevin Hambly said. “We hadn’t seen that the whole preseason, but I expect that given the fans at Huff. Tonight was good for understanding how things are supposed to go and getting the nerves and rust off. I thought we got better with every set.”

Both teams came out hesitant in the first set and battled back and forth to the eventual outcome of a 25-22 first set win for the current Illini.

From there, Illinois became more sure of itself, putting the alumnae away 25-15 and 25-13 in the second and third sets, respectively.

The Illini were led by freshman outside hitter Michelle Strizak, who had 10 kills in her first game at Huff Hall.

“The freshmen got to play with pressure on them,” Hambly said. “Strizak was ridiculous, hitting .714 and doing a good job. I thought it was good, getting them all out there and taking some cuts.”

All five freshmen for the Illini saw playing time and got to experience a home crowd for the first time.

“I thought the freshmen did a good job,” alumnae team member Erin Johnson said. “I think they’ll be a good team this year, and they’re coming together well.”

For the alumni, Colleen Ward led the way finishing with seven kills, but the biggest part of the game wasn’t the final score or the stats, but rather the learning experience for the Illini.

“We know that when we’re talking, communicating things flow for us, and that’s when we’re at our best,” senior libero Jennifer Beltran said. “That’s a big thing for us.”

Johnson said she hopes to give the Illini tips on how she did things while she was on the team this season, as she will stay on as a student assistant coach.

“It’s awesome having the alumnae come back, especially E.J., since she’s been working with us this preseason and she’ll be with us this season,” Beltran said. “It’s great for the freshmen who are just getting here because she can give them other pointers that we haven’t experienced yet.”

The freshmen will get another chance to prove themselves this weekend against Florida State, Kentucky and Long Beach State in the Long Beach State Mizuno Invitational.

Nicholas can be reached at [email protected] and @IlliniSportsGuy.