Illini volleyball team arrives in Sweet 16 ahead of schedule

Illinois volleyball coach Don Hardin knew he had a good recruiting class when it was ranked No. 6 nationally among high school seniors two seasons ago. The class lived up to its ranking earlier than expected.

Four sophomores in the starting lineup, featuring unanimous all-Big Ten sophomore Laura DeBruler, lead Illinois (26-7) against California (25-6) in an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 match in State College, Pa., on Friday afternoon. Illinois has already advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2003 and seeks its first trip to the Elite Eight in 16 years.

Supinie