Illini Volleyball 2025-2026

#51      
IlliniHardwood
UCantHideYer said:
Very impressive win! Down big in the 4th and we turned it up a couple notches. Again a very balanced attack. No answer for Philpot‘s arm. Great decisions on where to go with it by Phelan. And we were fantastic on out of system balls. WTG ladies!
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Thanks for the informed commentary. Most of us, such as myself, will have to take your word for it, but still be excited for the win!
 
#52      
oldman
Illini beat USC on a last second field goal, Bears beat LV on a last second blocked field goal, Cubs sweep the Cardinals, but for me the best part of the weekend is the two upset wins by the Illini volleyball team, showing real toughness in both.
 
#53      
UCantHideYer
oldman said:
Illini beat USC on a last second field goal, Bears beat LV on a last second blocked field goal, Cubs sweep the Cardinals, but for me the best part of the weekend is the two upset wins by the Illini volleyball team, showing real toughness in both.
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Ok for me to say Amen Brother? Who’d have thought we‘d open B10 with this schedule 2–0, dropping only 1 set in 7?
 
#55      
pruman91
I finally got around to watching the replay of the purdont upset win by the beloved......for some reason the replay started at the start of the 2nd set so I'll watch that on btn + later on today.....Hulu is consistent in starting recording's late.........anyway , it was very enjoyable to get a top 10 upset ON THE ROAD !!!!!....Boiler up Throwing up......lol.....

The best was the big comeback to win the 4th set and the match as the ladies wouldn't be denied.....our service game is continuing to improve from some horrible play earlier on in the season and the 3some of Deboer , Tomkinson and Philpot was outstanding blocking and killing purdont all night long........

Great job ladies.........it really really was...............and a great weekend to be an Illini fanatic....I'm still buzzing over the FB win Saturday..

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#58      
Doc I
I was surprised how little that win changed either Purdue's or our rating.
The Purdue coach said the loss was because of how they played, not how we played
 
#60      
oldman
Doc I said:
I was surprised how little that win changed either Purdue's or our rating.
The Purdue coach said the loss was because of how they played, not how we played
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Of course he would say that, wouldn’t want to give his opponent credit for making his team play badly. We served them tough, put them out of system, forced them out of their comfort zone. Taylor and Ashlyn did a great job of hitting it where they weren’t. Auburn also. To repeat, we made them look disorganized.
 
#61      
pruman91
it seems to me that the team chemistry is a lot better this year..........maybe it's Kayla B. being back , but the addition of Phelan and Tomkinson and especially Aguayo seems to have brought better cohesion in the locker room and furthermore to the court....

For those of you who have access to BTN + , I strongly advise you to check out the clip on Phelan and her affinity for painting .....
There is part of it with her and coach Tamas at a table painting and the back and forth between them thought brought me a better understanding about coach T. and how he relates to her and a bigger idea about him and the whole roster....JMHO...
 
#62      
oldman
The team chemistry appears much better this year. While the positive additions to the roster have been important, the transfers out may be a bigger part of the improvement.
 
#63      
Barfolomew
pruman91 said:
it seems to me that the team chemistry is a lot better this year..........maybe it's Kayla B. being back , but the addition of Phelan and Tomkinson and especially Aguayo seems to have brought better cohesion in the locker room and furthermore to the court....

For those of you who have access to BTN + , I strongly advise you to check out the clip on Phelan and her affinity for painting .....
There is part of it with her and coach Tamas at a table painting and the back and forth between them thought brought me a better understanding about coach T. and how he relates to her and a bigger idea about him and the whole roster....JMHO...
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I agree pruman, and think you said it earlier in the season, but Aguayo seems to quietly stack up the kills. Surprising that someone her size is averaging over 10 kills per match.
 
#64      
pruman91
big road match tonight with the ladies taking on the # 7 badgerettes..........we just beat the # 10 purdont's on the road so we have the momentum to continue our roadkill mojo..........our beloved are so enjoyable to watch , especially that it seems like we have shored up our earlier struggles with our service mistakes on our serve and our return of serve.........keep playing up to our skill level and we might see the Illini reach a top 25 level.....fingers crossed.....I really really believe we can do it.........
 
#65      
Barfolomew
Wow, did Mimi Colyer look good for Wiscy last night. The Illini hung with them the first half of each set, but the Red Menace just had too much firepower and really solid defense.
Badgers get Nebraska in their barn on Halloween - that will be a good one.
 
#66      
pruman91
it was a rough night last night watching wisky going on 9-11 scoring runs......Colyer is an impressive player , moreso this year than last year as a Duck.......The B$G is such a powerful conference with every match a challenge.................
 
#67      
pruman91
Illini VB sweat out a grueling 5 set match and defeat the rocket mort-gag spartans 15-4 in the deciding 5th set..........Illini are now 3-1 in the B$G..........

Aguayo with a new personal best of 19 kills and tremendous serving.......4 ladies in double digit kills.....

Deboer . Philpot and Burbage join Aguayo in double digits.........Campbell with some great serves in the 5th set to get a large lead for the Illini...................Big win Illini !!!!!!!!!!!
 
#69      
Doc I
I'm still having a hard time understanding after beating Purdue on the road why the announcers made it sound like us winning against the Spartans was an upset. We're a young team, but improving every match
 
#73      
oldman
They should win their next four matches against lower level teams and could be 7-1 in the B1G going into their home rematch with Purdue. All four matches are on the road, but if we can't beat Rutgers, Maryland, Ohio State and Northwestern, even on the road, we don't deserve to end up in the post-season. And while I don't want to jinx us, in my memory this is the latest in the season we have been 100% healthy with all of our core players.
 
#75      
Fan Since '70
ChiefKingfisher said:
Tamas is in good position to survive another year. Was worried they’d be awful without Raina, but they seem to be finding success with a young core.
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Illini relied too much on Raina Terry for their offense and that was detrimental to success. Opposing teams would load up on Terry as Terry got most of the swings. Consequently Raina got blocked and had low hitting percentage. Illini offense was predictable and defeatable. Spreading the offense around to both corners, to middle blockers and hitter from back row, now achieving greater success. It is much harder for other teams to defend when Illini spread offense around. Illini has capable outside hitters, middles and back row hitters this year. I am not surprised by their success.
 
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