Maryland & Rutgers
Match 12: Maryland	Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 | 6 pm CT | College Park, Md. | XFINITY Pavilion Radio: WDWS 1400 | Livestats | Video: Big Ten Network
Match 13: Rutgers	Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 | 6 pm CT | New Brunswick, N.J. | College Avenue Gymnasium Radio: WDWS 1400 | Livestats
Full Match Notes	Illinois | Maryland | Rutgers
Statistics	Illinois (9-2) | Maryland (10-4) | Rutgers (3-9)
Series History	Maryland: Illinois leads 2-0 | Last W, 3-0, on 9/26/14 | Streak: W2 | Results Rutgers: Illinois leads 3-1 | Last: W, 3-0, on 11/16/14 | Streak: W3 | Results
Tickets	Maryland: Adults-$6 Youth/Seniors-$4 Rutgers: Free admission
Social Media	@IlliniVball  | #Illini  | Facebook  | @IlliniVBall  | YouTube

ILLINOIS VS. THE FIELD

The Fighting Illini volleyball team opens conference play ranked ninth in the most recent AVCA poll. UI heads on its fourth-straight road trip as the Orange and Blue travel to Maryland and Rutgers.

First up, Illinois will face the Terrapins of Maryland. This will be just the third meeting all-time between the two sides and second as conference opposition. Illinois owns both prior matches with the Terrapins, each taking place on Illinois' home court. 

Next for the Fighting Illini, will be the fourth-ever meeting between the Scarlett Knights of Rutgers and the Fighting Illini. UI holds a 3-1 all-time series advantage over the easterners. The two sides met twice last season, RU's first in the Big Ten, as conference opponents, with Illinois taking both meetings. The two meetings prior, 2005 and 1981, took place at neutral sites (Las Vegas and State College, Pennsylvania) and were split results between the squads.

ON THE ROAD...AGAIN

For the fourth weekend in a row the Illinois volleyball team will hit the road with one more trip to go before another home contest. After hosting the Illini Classic, UI hit the road for the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge hosted by Penn State. The following weekend, the Orange and Blue headed to Wichita, Kansas, for the Shocker Volleyball Classic. Most recently, Illinois competed at the Sun Devil Invitational, hosted by No. 10 (at the time) Arizona State. 

900 PROGRAM WINS

With a 3-0 sweep of No. 21 Colorado in the B1G/Pac-12 Challenge on September 5th, the Illinois Volleyball program picked up its 900th program victory, setting it apart as one of the elite NCAA programs. The victory was head coach Kevin Hambly's 144th win at the Illinois helm.

CAREER MARKS AGAINST TOP-10 OPPONENTS

The Illini turned it on against No. 2 Stanford in the B1G/Pac-12 Challenge with multiple players tallying career efforts in the contest. Jocelynn Birks tallied her 43rd career double-double after posting 16 kills to match her 16 digs. Brandi Donnelly was all over the court defensively and notched 24 digs, enough to mark her 12th career 20-dig performance. 

Two weeks later, at Arizona State, Donnelly turned in another 20-dig performance, the 13th of her young career, Jordyn Poulter contributed a double-double in the contest and Katie Stadick tallied 18 kills, the most by an Illinois player yet this season.

DOUBLE-DOUBLES IN TEMPE

In the span of two matches in Tempe, Arizona, last weekend Jordyn Poulter and Jocelynn Birks tallied three double-doubles between the two of them. Birks and Poulter both achieved the feat in the four-set contest against UNLV on Sat., Sept. 19, morning. Poulter turned around and hit the marks again that night in the five-set thriller against Arizona State. Birks now owns three double-doubles (45 career) on the season and Poulter has notched four.

HOLDING OPPONENTS TO SINGLE DIGITS

Twice now this season, Illinois has held an opponent to single digits in a set. The first occurance came against South Dakota State at the Shocker Classic when UI limited the Jackrabbits to nine points in the middle of the three sets played. The Orange and Blue went even bigger against Texas Southern, limiting the Tigers to just seven points in the second frame. The previous time UI held an opponent to that few of points was in Hambly's final year as an assistant with the Illini against North Carolina in 2008. 

FIRST SET PERFECTION

While the Fighting Illini are not unscathed on the season, their record in opening sets is still perfect. Illinois has yet to lose in the first frame of a match this season. In the loss to Stanford, the sides went to four sets as UI captured the opener 26-24. That set marked the only time the Illini have had a set point against them in the first frame. When the Fighting Illini unit fell to Arizona State in five sets, the Orange and Blue won the opener 25-23. 

HUFF HALL ATTENDANCE CONTINUES TO CLIMB

In 1992, the Illini set an NCAA record with 52,666 fans for an average of 3,098 fans per match. Under head coach Kevin Hambly, that loyalty has returned, as attendance has steadily risen every year during his tenure.

In 2013, the Illini set a new record for average attendance, ranking ninth in the nation with 3,117 fans per match, which included two matches played at State Farm Center. The following summer, Huff Hall renovations increased capacity to 4,536, and the Illini posted yet another 3,000+ crowd average, ranking eighth in the nation in 2014 at 3,027.

The Fighting Illini faithful returned in full force to start 2015, as reserved season tickets sold out during preseason sales for the first time in program history, and the Orange and Blue posted three consecutive 3,000+ crowds on opening weekend. 3,344 fans "stuffed" Huff on opening night, and 3,005 came through the doors on Saturday for an average of 3,118 to start the year.

On Oct. 4, 2014, the Orange and Blue hosted the first-ever IlliNOISE Night promotion, during which the Illini faithful sold out Huff Hall with a record crowd of 4,536 fans. In the first official sellout since 2011, Illinois fans broke the 22-year-old record of 4,316 set at the 1992 NCAA Regional vs. Stanford after the 2014 summer renovations increased listed capacity by nearly 500 seats. IlliNOISE Night returns on Oct. 9 vs. Penn State.

Illinois went 14-1 at home in 2014, winning the first 18 sets at Huff Hall before falling to No. 6 Wisconsin on Oct. 4. Illinois opened 2015 with three straight sweeps, as the Illini are now 89-20 in front of a home crowd since the start of 2008. All-but-two of those losses came to teams in the top 25, including three to the No. 1 team in the country. 

Illinois ranked ninth in the nation in average crowd size and eighth in total attendance in 2014. Six of the top 11 teams in average attendance were members of the Big Ten, with Nebraska leading the nation at 8,083.

Illinois has had 47 home matches in program history with a crowd of 3,000 fans or more, including all three home matches this season. 

Illinois has had at least five home matches with over 3,000 fans in each of the past three seasons. The seven 3,000+ crowds in 2014 were second only to the 1992 season, when 11 of the Illini's 17 home matches featured crowds of 3,000 or more. Despite playing just three home matches so far this season, the Illini already tie with 1993 for sixth all time in program history.

YET ANOTHER CHALLENGING SLATE AWAITS ILLINI

In 2013, the Fighting Illini played the most challenging schedule of any team in the NCAA that season, and arguably one of the most difficult slates ever. The Illini followed that year with the 12th-most-difficult schedule in 2014, including playing eight matches against teams that finished the season ranked in the top eight.

2015 figures to be just as exciting as the last two, as Illinois has 10 of this week's top 25 on its schedule for a total of 14 matches, including facing No. 1 Penn State, No. 4 Nebraska, No. 7 Arizona State, No. 8 Stanford, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 16 Wisconsin, No. 20 Purdue, No. 21 Minnesota, No. 22 Michigan and No. 24 Kentucky. Additionally, the Illini will take on Colorado, Iowa, Michigan State and Creighton who are all receiving votes in this week's poll.

At each of the three away tournaments this season, Illinois faced at least one ranked opponent. At the B1G/Pac-12 Challenge, the Illini faced off against No. 2 Stanford followed by No. 21 Colorado. At the Shocker Classic Illinois faced the 21st-ranked team in the nation, as Kentucky had taken over the spot in that week's poll. Last weekend, the Orange and Blue faced off against No. 10 Arizona State. That Saturday night match was the first time Illinois played a ranked opponent at their home venue this season.

O&B SWEEP THROUGH ILLINI CLASSIC

For the second straight season, the Fighting Illini opened the season by sweeping through their home tournament and going a perfect 9-0 in sets to capture the Illini Classic crown. Illinois took down Louisville, Miami (Ohio) and Creighton in straight sets for a flawless opening weekend.

Junior Michelle Strizak was named Most Valuable player, after hitting .448 with 33 kills (4.71 k/s) to go along with six digs and three blocks. Fellow pin hitters Ali Stark and Jocelynn Birks joined her on the seven-player All-Tournament team. Birks led the Illini with 37 kills on the weekend to go with 16 digs and three blocks, including hitting a career-high .500 with 16 kills against Miami. Stark posted 18 kills, 21 digs and six blocks on the weekend, including going 14-0-30 (.467) over the pair of matches on Saturday.

ILLINI TRIO GARNER B1G WEEKLY AWARDS

After the opening week of competition, Michelle Strizak, Brandi Donnelly and Jordyn Poulter took home Big Ten weekly awards. Strizak earned her first career Big Ten Player of the Week award; Donnelly was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for the first time after garnering three Freshman of the Week awards in 2014, and Poulter became the third Illini since the award began in 2009 to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after her first career match. The threesome also became the first Illini trio to take home weekly awards on the same week since the expansion to three awards in 2009.

FIGHTING ILLINI AT THE B1G/PAC-12 CHALLENGE

For the second-straight season, Illinois has taken part in the B1G/Pac-12 Challenge, which features a pair of teams from each the Big Ten and Pac-12. After falling to both UCLA and Stanford last season out in California, the Fighting Illini headed to University Park, Pennsylvania, for round two this season. 

After taking the opening set against No. 2 Stanford by a 25-16 tally, Illinois fell in the next three sets to drop the opener 3-1. The Illini came back strong the next day and picked up their first B1G/Pac-12 Challenge victory over No. 21 Colorado in a quick three-set sweep.

SHOCKER CLASSIC

In most recent action at the Shocker Classic, Illinois saw action against a trio of non-conference opponents. First up was 21st-ranked Kentucky, who the Fighting Illini took care of in three sets, despite being down at set point in the opening set for the first time on the season. 

Against South Dakota State, Illinois did something that they hadn't done since the NCAA Tournament last season, when they held the Jackrabbits to single digits in the second set.

The match against Wichita State marked Illinois' first away contest of the season. While the Shockers swept 21st-ranked Kentucky the night prior, the hosts were no match for Illinois, who picked up its fourth-straight win with the three-set sweep.

SUN DEVIL INVITATIONAL

Making the trip to Tempe, Arizona, UI faced a trio of opponents at the Wells Fargo Arena. The Illini came out with wins against Texas Southern (3 sets) and UNLV (4 sets). Despite forcing five sets with the host Sun Devils, the Orange and Blue couldn't hold off ASU and fell by a line of 25-23, 19-25, 11-25, 25-15 & 11-15.

NO. 1 RECRUITING CLASS HITS THE COURT IN '15

On May 28, 2015, PrepVolleyball.com released its annual recruiting class rankings, staking the claim that the Illini's incoming freshman class, featuring No. 3 Jordyn Poulter, No. 10  Ali Bastianelli and No. 52 Beth Prince, is projected to be the most talented group of recruits in the country. The ranking marked the fourth time during Kevin Hambly's tenure on staff that the Illini have brought in a top-10 class and the highest-rated class in program history. 

Poulter and Bastianelli were named opening day starters and turned heads at the Illini Classic. Poulter led the Illini to a .414 hitting percentage against Miami, then tallied her second straight double-double against Creighton with 34 assists, 10 digs, four kills and two solo blocks.

The freshman duo tied for the team lead with five block assists on opening night against Creighton, as Bastianelli finished the Illini classic with a team-high 11 blocks and six kills over three straight sweeps.

The 2011 National Freshman of the Year according to both ESPN and PrepVolleyball.com, Prince has yet to don the Orange and Blue, having been sidelined during the Illini Classic with an injury. An Under Armour High School All-American, she was one of just two athletes in her class nationally to be rated a PrepVolleyball.com All-American four years in a row.

ILLINI RANKED PRESEASON NO. 8

After going 26-8 with a repeat trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2014, expectations are again high for the 2015 Fighting Illini. Returning a majority of their starters and bringing in the top recruiting class in the nation, Illinois received the No. 8 ranking the AVCA Preseason Poll. The top-10 mark is the highest for the Illini since 2012, when the NCAA National Runner-Up gained a No. 7 preseason rank, the fourth-straight top-10 rank for the Illini under Hambly.

The No. 8 ranking marks the 11th time that Illinois has been ranked in the top 10 in the first AVCA poll of the season. Illinois' highest opening rank came on Sept. 6, 1988, when the AVCA placed the Illini at No. 2 on the first week of the season following their first-ever trip to the NCAA Semifinals.

Illinois appeared in the top 25 of the AVCA's first poll every season from 1986 to 1994, resurfaced at No. 14 in 1999 then at No. 19 in 2002 and 2004. The Illini have been ranked in the preseason top 25 in all-but-one season under Hambly, having received votes in 2013, with five top-10 projections in his seven seasons. The 2015 preseason ranking marks the Illini's 18th year beginning the schedule in the top 25.

After sweeping on opening weekend, Illinois jumped up two spots to No. 6, marking the highest ranking for the Illini since finishing the 2011 season at No. 2.

Following a 1-1 outing at the B1G/Pac-12 Challenge Illinois moved to No. 7 in the second weekly AVCA poll. 

With three-straight sweeps at the Shocker Classic, including one over a ranked Kentucky, the Orange and Blue returned to No. 6 in the weekly AVCA poll.

OPENING NIGHT SUCCESS

The Illini have had tremendous success on opening night, going 32-10 all time in the first match of the season. Illinois has lost just one season opener since 1999, starting the new millennium with a 12-match winning streak from 2000-2011, before dropping the 2012 lid lifter at Dayton. Illinois swept Louisville to start this season.

Illinois is even more successful in home openers, going 36-6 all time in the first home match of the year. The Illini have not lost a home opener in over two decades; after falling to No. 18 New Mexico on Sept. 9, 1994, the Orange and Blue have won their last 21 straight home openers. Since making the move to Huff Hall in 1990, Illinois is 25-1 in the first home match of the season.

BIRKS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN

Illinois senior outside hitter Jocelynn Birks was unanimously named Preseason All-Big Ten, as voted on by the Big Ten coaches. A two-time All-Big Ten selection, Birks claimed her third-straight preseason honor. 

Birks enters her third-straight season on the Preseason All-Big Ten list after earning AVCA All-America Second Team and a unanimous All-Big Ten selection last fall. On pace to become the Illini's all-time kills leader, she led the Big Ten in kills, kills per set, points, points per set and double-doubles as a junior while recording her third consecutive 500-kill performance.

Birks was one of just two Big Ten players to capture her third Preseason All-Big Ten nod, joining Penn State senior Megan Courtney. 

HAMBLY PRODUCES ALL-AMERICANS

Illinois has 27 All-America honors among 17 players in school history. Nine of those players earned 15 honors with Kevin Hambly on staff. Three of the five First-Team All-Americans have come under Hambly (Laura DeBruler, Colleen Ward, Michelle Bartsch), while current staff members Hillary Haen Tennant and Johannah Bangert both earned All-America honors under Hambly as well. Senior Jocelynn Birks is a two-time All-American, following up a 2013 Third Team honor with a Second Team award in 2014.