Nov. 23, 1999
Illinois (15-9/11-7) vs. Minnesota/Iowa
Nov. 26-27 ? Huff Hall ? 7 p.m.
Illini Split Important Weekend:
The Fighting Illini volleyball team split its final road trip of the season, falling at Michigan, three games to one on Friday before rebounding to hand Michigan State a three games to two loss. With the weekend Illinois improved its record to 15-9 and 11-7 in the Big Ten and was able to distance itself from Michigan State in the standings.
Scouting the Golden Gophers:
Minnesota is second in the Big Ten with a 24-7 overall record and 14-4 mark in conference play. The Gophers are led by junior outside hitter Nicole Branagh, who has 568 kills and averages 5.36 kills per game. Lindsey Berg handles setting duties for the Gophers, averaging 12.99 assists per game. Minnesota is coached by Dr. Mike Hebert, who is in his fourth year with the Minnesota program since leaving Illinois for the head job in the Twin Cities. Illinois leads the overall series between the two schools, 30-11-1, and won the first meeting between the two schools, three games to one, earlier this year in Minnesota.
Scouting the Hawkeyes:
Iowa is guided by second-year head coach Rita Buck-Crockett. The Hawkeyes are 4-21 overall and 3-15 in Big Ten play with wins over Purdue, Northwestenr and Michigan State. All of Iowa?s Big Ten wins came in the first half of the Big Ten season. Iowa is led by Julie Williams, who averages 4.27 kills per game. Illinois leads the overall series between the two schools, 33-10, and beat Iowa in three games earlier this year in Iowa City.
Beitz Sets Career Mark in Bloomington:
Senior setter Melissa Beitz became Illinois? all-time assists leader after collecting a season-high 66 assists at Indiana. Beitz entered the match needing 45 to break Disa Johnson?s mark of 5,550 assists in a career. Beitz, this year?s team captain and a four-year starter, now has 5,768 assists over her career. That ranks her fourth all-time in Big Ten history. The Big Ten record is 6,024 assists and is held by Sharon Oesterling of Minnesota.
Marshall Threatening Career Digs Record:
Now that Melissa Beitz has set the career assists record, it?s time to turn the record watch to senior outside hitter Tracey Marshall, who needs only 16 digs to break Mary Coleman?s career digs record. Marshall, who currently has 1,377 digs in her career, is chasing former teammate Coleman?s mark of 1,393 digs over four years.
TV Date Added:
Illinois? rematch with Minnesota on Nov. 26 has been added to the Big Ten volleyball television package. Fox Sports Chicago will air the match on a tape delay basis on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 4 p.m. central time. Illinois? match earlier this season at Minnesota was also broadcast on Fox Sports. Dave Loane will provide play-by-play with Angie Kammer handling the color commentary duties.
Webber Sees Increased Playing Time:
True freshman Sue Webber has shown she has the talent to play right away every time she?s had the opportunity this year. She did so once again at Indiana, getting starts in both games four and five against the Hoosiers and responding with a 10-kill night. Webber then ignited a spark into the Illini offense on the Michigan/Michigan State trip. Against Michigan, she became only the second Illini to notch 20+ kills in a night this season when she posted 22 kills. The Michigan match also was Webber?s first career double double, as she added 15 digs to her 22 kills. Webber followed that performance up with 18 kills and 11 digs at Michgian State on Saturday.
Spicer in the Big Ten Rankings:
For the season, MB Betsy Spicer ranks third in the Big Ten conference with a .350 overall hitting percentage and she?s sixth in blocking with 1.29 blocks per game. In conference games only, Spicer ranks sixth in attack percentage (.335) and sixth in blocking (1.35 blocks per game).
Haddad?s Streak Broken:
Sophomore Shadia Haddad had her streak of 18-consecutive matches with at least 10 kills broken in Illinois? three game loss to Ohio State Nov. 5. It was the first time this season she has failed to reach double digits.
Spread Out Offense:
Setter Melissa Beitz is doing a great job of spreading out the Illini attack. Five Illini average more than two kills per game and only three Illinois players, Shadia Haddad, Betsy Spicer and Sue Webber, have notched 20 or more kills in one night.
On the Tube:
Illinois is 3-3 on TV so far this season. Illinois? matches at Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State were all telecast locally while its match at Minnesota was broadcast by Fox Sports Net and the Ohio State match at Huff was aired by espn2. Illinois is scheduled for one more broadcast this season, with its match against Minneosta at Huff Hall being picked up by Fox Sports Net.
Up Against the Best:
Illinois is 3-3 against ranked opponents in 1999, having dropped its first match of the season to No. 11 Cal-Santa Barbara, three games to none and lost 3-0 to No. 2 Penn State before beating No. 25 Ohio State, 3-2, in Columbus, No. 18 Wisconsin, 3-0, at home in Huff Hall and No. 22 Minnesota, 3-1, in Minneapolis. Illinois snapped its winning streak against ranked opponents in a four game loss to No. 1 Penn State at home Nov. 6.
Spicer, Haddad Favorite Options:
Junior Betsy Spicer and sophomore Shadia Haddad have been setter Melissa Beitz?s favorite and most successful options this season. Haddad is averaging a team-high 3.69 kills per game while Spicer is averaging 3.21 kills per game while hitting a team-high .337.
Argabright to Redshirt:
The volleyball team has decided that freshman Lisa Argabright will redshirt the 1999 season. The 6?6? Louisville, Ky., native will not compete for Illinois until the 2000 season. She will continue to practice and travel with the squad.
The Huff Advantage:
Illinois is 8-3 this year in Huff Hall and 5-3 in Huff against Big Ten competition. Overall, Illinois has a 180-41 (.814) record at Huff since the team began playing there in 1985.
Two Illini Earn Preseason All-Big Ten Honors:
Seniors Melissa Beitz and Tracey Marshall were both named to the 1999 Preseason All-Big Ten team. Beitz is the returning assists leader in the Big Ten. She was named AVCA All-District a year ago after finishing second in the nation in assists. Marshall was a 1998 All-Big Ten pick.
Illinois Picked Third in the Big Ten:
In a preseason coaches poll, Illinois was picked to finish third in the Big Ten (behind Penn State and Wisconsin). A year ago, Illinois was picked to finish fourth and stayed true to form. The Big Ten volleyball coaches predicted the following order of finish: 1. Penn State, 2. Wisconsin, 3. Illinois, 4(T). Michigan State and Ohio State, 6. Minnesota, 7. Indiana, 8. Iowa, 9. Purdue, 10. Michigan, 11. Northwestern.
Illinois Ranked 14th Preseason:
Ending the 1998 season ranked 14th in the nation, Illinoisearned that same ranking to start 1999 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association/USA Today preseason poll, released on August 12. Illinois is one of four Big Ten schools ranked in the poll: the coaches voted Penn State No. 1, Wisconsin No. 9, Illinois No. 14 and Michigan State No. 22.
Illini Return Four Starters:
Despite losing five seniors to graduation, Illinois is returning four starters who have all earned Big Ten recognition at one point in their careers. Seniors Melissa Beitz (S), Tracey Marshall (OH) and Sara Sorrell (OH) all return along with junior Betsy Spicer (MB), one of the most effective blockers in the conference.
Another Tough Schedule:
Illinois, which played the toughest schedule in the nation in 1998, faces another grueling schedule in 1999. In addition to stiff Big Ten competition that includes national runner-up Penn State, the Illini have matches scheduled against 1998 NCAA tournament participants UCSB, UNC, Utah, Louisville and Illinois State.
Hardin Enters Fourth Year:
Head Coach Don Hardin is entering his fourth year at the helm of the Fighting Illini volleyball team. Hardin, a graduate of Illinois and former assistant coach, has posted a 66-48 record in Champaign. In 1998 he took the team back to the NCAA tournament and Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1995.
AVCA/USA Today Top 25 (Nov. 22)
Rank School Last Week
1. Penn State 1
2. Stanford 2
3. Hawaii 3
4. Florida 4
5. Pacific 5
6. UCLA 6
7. Long Beach State 7
8. UC Santa Barbara 9
9. BYU 10
10. Pepperdine 8
11. Nebraska 12
12. Colorado State 11
13. Texas A&M 14
14. USC 15
15. Texas 16
16. Clemson 13
17. Northern Iowa 17
18. Kansas State 18
19. Arizona 19
20. Minnesota 20
21. Colorado 21
22. Baylor 22
23. North Carolina 25
24. Arkansas 23
25. San Diego 24
BIG TEN STANDINGS
(as of November 22, 1999)
Big Ten Overall
1. Penn State 18-0/1.000 28-1/.966
2. Minnesota 14-4/.778 24-7/.774
3. Wisconsin 13-5/.722 20-8/.714
4. Illinois 11-7/.611 15-9/.625
5. Michigan St. 9-9/.500 19-11/.633
Ohio State 9-9/.500 15-10/.600
7. Indiana 8-10/.444 17-10/.630
8. Purdue 7-11/.389 15-12/.556
9. Michigan 5-13/.250 13-14/.481
10. Iowa 3-15/.167 4-21/.160
11. N?western 2-16/.063 4-24/.143
National Attendance Leaders
Rank School Average
1. Hawaii 7,300
2. Nebraska 3,844
3. Penn State 2,773
4. Florida 2,477
5. Illinois State 2,316
6. Stanford 2,298
7. Kansas State 2,054
8. Pacific 1,985
9. Wisconsin 1,972
10. Minnesota 1,966
11. Texas 1,907
12. Long Beach State 1,799
13. Illinois 1,754
14. Brigham Young 1,531
15. Northern Iowa 1,472
16. Colorado State 1,399
17. Texas A&M 1,163
18. E. Washington 1,112
19. Arizona 1,083
20. Purdue 1,073
Illinois Volleyball Records to Watch
Career Kills
1. Mary Eggers 1,761
2. Mary Coleman 1,707
3. Nancy Brookhart 1,669
4. Tracey Marshall 1,607
5. Bridget Boyle 1,484
6. Tina Rogers 1,195
7. Erin Borske 1,192
8. Petra Laverman 1,181
9. Kristin Henriksen 1,144
10. Lorna Henderson 1,115
Career Attack Attempts
1. Mary Coleman 4,374
2. Tracey Marshall 4,069
3. Bridget Boyle 3,480
4. Mary Eggers 3,417
5. Nancy Brookhart 3,329
6. Petra Laverman 2,894
7. Lorna Henderson 2,772
8. Erin Borske 2,769
9. Tina Rogers 2,730
10. Denise Fracaro 2,591
Career Attack Percentage
1. Mary Eggers .420
2. Kirsten Gleis .385
3. Nancy Brookhart .378
4. Kristin Henriksen .362
5. Cristy Chapman .329
6. Betsy Spicer .322
7. Tina Rogers .307
8. Disa Johnson .304
9. Kelly Scherr .296
10. Laura Bush .282
Career Digs
1. Mary Coleman 1,393
2. Tracey Marshall 1,377
3. Sandy Scholtens 1,133
4. Mary Eggers 1,092
5. Petra Laverman 1,003
6. Disa Johnson 959
7. Bridget Boyle 951
8. Laura Bush 915
9. Barb Winsett 848
10. Lorna Henderson 838
Career Assists
1. Melissa Beitz 5,768
2. Disa Johnson 5,550
3. Barb Winsett 4,457
4. Merrill Mullis 3,661
