Illini Volleyball 2025-2026

#26      
pruman91
Illini fall to # 3 Louisville today by a score of 3-1.......We played valiantly but couldn't overcome the Cardinals on the road...The Illini did win a set though and that was the first set L-ville has lost this season.........the announcers were very complimentary of the Illini as we did give our opponent a run towards taking the match to 5 sets but we ran out of gas at the end.....

I'm no expert by far , but it seems to me need more improved play from our libero.....she is a transfer so maybe she needs more time to adjust to how we do things @ UI , but it is our weak spot in the lineup right now......JMHO.....

The Illini haven't yet played a home game....I find that weird especially with the number of games played so far........I will be tuning in to every game I can get as womens VB is such an exciting sport........it really really is............
 
#27      
UCantHideYer
No AC at Huff. Last couple years we have shied away from the non conference home games. Good reason to go to Illinois St to see a few.
 
#28      
JKR
We play our first seven games on the road. Part of that is due to the lack of air conditioning in Huff. Opposing teams don't want to play in a steamy gym where the floor can become dangerously slick.

UC beat me. :mad:
 
#31      
JKR
GatorMcKlusky said:
Why they aren't playing their home matches at SFC is beyond me.....huge mistake to stay at Huff.
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Our previous coach (Hambly) didn't want to make that move. He was trying to build a weak program into a contender. A part of that journey was to build a homecourt advantage. He wanted to build a rowdy student section, and he felt that he could draw those students to Huff from the nearby dorms.
On a more practical note, it would be difficult to schedule volleyball at the SFC when both men's and women's basketball programs were using the same facility for about five weeks each year.

On a slightly different note, women's basketball made the move from Huff to the SFC during the Grentz era because crowds were starting to push capacity in the smaller venue. However, attendance dropped off significantly during the 15-year Law/Bollant/Fahey disaster. The atmosphere for home games during that stretch was horrible. It wasn't uncommon for crowds to fall to a couple hundred fans for some of the games in that huge arena.
 
#32      
GatorMcKlusky
JKR said:
Our previous coach (Hambly) didn't want to make that move. He was trying to build a weak program into a contender. A part of that journey was to build a homecourt advantage. He wanted to build a rowdy student section, and he felt that he could draw those students to Huff from the nearby dorms.
On a more practical note, it would be difficult to schedule volleyball at the SFC when both men's and women's basketball programs were using the same facility for about five weeks each year.

On a slightly different note, women's basketball made the move from Huff to the SFC during the Grentz era because crowds were starting to push capacity in the smaller venue. However, attendance dropped off significantly during the 15-year Law/Bollant/Fahey disaster. The atmosphere for home games during that stretch was horrible. It wasn't uncommon for crowds to fall to a couple hundred fans for some of the games in that huge arena.
Click to expand...
Can air conditioning be installed in Huff?
 
#35      
pruman91
The Illini played probably their worst game of the season losing to the Miami Canes 3-1......The Canes had at least 13 service Aces and the Illini had at least 13 service errors themselves........ Return of service when the Canes didn't get an Ace usually resulted in a Canes point anyway.....

Libero still is a major weakness with the Canes seeing the Illini out of position and using the dump shot very effectively........The Canes have a good team but they didn't get the Illini's A game today.......more like a C- or D + Illini performance........

JMHO.....
 
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#36      
thrillini
Illini lose 3-1 to Miami (FL).

Didn't watch the game (on ESPN+), but it appears passing/serve receive remains a bugaboo for the Illini women. Hurricanes had 13 aces in 4 sets--We'll have to be better if we want to compete against good teams!

Aguayo with our best offensive stats, leading the team with 14 kills and hitting .367
 
#38      
pruman91
It was good to see the Illini bounce back from loss to the Canes with the sweep of Illinois St.........passing was more crisp and return of serve was too........Aguayo has been a pleasant surprise as a true freshman and she get's a lot of kills for only being 6 ft tall.........

LET'S GO ILLINI !!!!!!!!!!!
 
#39      
Battle89
Late to the party, but it's 2025. How can any modern B1G team play in an arena with no air conditioning?

And further, how can you build a home-court advantage when you can't play at home? Good riddance to the old coach.
 
#42      
Barfolomew
My first game at Huff this past Saturday vs. Iowa St.
It was... warm.
Illini had six set points in the second but couldn't close it out. Was good to see they bounced back against EIU though.
 
#45      
pruman91
The Illini complete the sweep winning the 3rd set 25-18.....

This was the best serving game in a long time for the Illini......

Next up is purdont on Sunday...
 
#46      
UCantHideYer
Was fun performance tonight. Great serving. Didn’t check stats, but maybe only 2 service errors, with Oregon always scrambling on the first ball. Great to see Kayla dominate. Great D. Lotsa PT & contribution from bench.
 
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