Sept. 13, 1999
Illinois Captures 16th Annual Classic: Illinois captured the 16th annual Illini Classic this weekend at historic Huff Hall. The Illini defeated George Mason, 3-0, in Friday?s first round and then beat Georgia, 3-0, in Saturday?s championship match. Illinois? Betsy Spicer earned Classic MVP honors while teammates Shadia Haddad and Melissa Beitz joined her on the all-tournament team. With the championship, Illinois has now won five-straight Classic titles and 11 total titles.
Illini Football, Volleyball Team Up: The Illinois football and volleyball teams hit the road together next weekend as both teams travel to Louisville, Ky., to compete against the Louisville Cardinals. The volleyball team will play an exhibition match against a German team Friday, Sept. 17 before playing Louisville Saturday at 2 p.m. The Illinois and Louisville football teams square off against one another Saturday at 6 p.m. central time.
Louisville Connections: Illinois Volleyball has a number of connections to Louisville, this weekend?s opponent. Head Coach Don Hardin coached the Cardinals for eight seasons from 1988-95, winning six conference titles in his eight years. Assistant Coach Anne Kordes, who first met Hardin during his days at Louisville, was a two-year starting setter for the Cardinals. Finally, freshman Lisa Argabright is a Louisville native.
Illini Drop Match Against USPV: After winning the Illini Classic Saturday night, Illinois made a quick turnaround and traveled to Chicago on Sunday for a match against the new United State Pro Volleyball team. Illinois dropped the match, four games to none. Senior Tracey Marhall, playing in her former high school gym at Downers Grove South, led the team with 15 kills.
Illini Collect First Win Against Redbirds: Illinois picked up its first win of the season Wednesday evening at Huff Hall, defeating Illinois State, three games to one. Despite dropping behind at the beginning of each game (including 1-10) in game one) Illinois crawled back to win. Junior Betsy Spicer and senior Sara Sorrell led the way with 16 kills apiece.
Illini Slow Out of the Gate: The Illinois volleyball team, ranked 14th in the national in the AVCA preseason poll, started its season slowly, dropping two matches at the Long Beach State Tournament. Illinois lost its first match, 3-0, to No. 11 Cal-Santa Barbara, then dropped a five-game match to North Carolina the next day. Illinois was competing at the Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif., the site of the team?s 1998 NCAA Sweet Sixteen match.
Lineup Shuffle: Illinois has had stiff competition in the preseason for starting spots. In the first two matches, Melissa Beitz, Tracey Marshall, Dena Schorn, Sara Sorrell, Betsy Spicer and Annie Stoessel comprised the starting lineup. As the season has gone on, sophomores Shadia Haddad and Lydia Gard have also seen time as starters.
Gard Steps Up: Sophomore Lydia Gard got the first significant playing time of her Illini career and made the most of it in Saturday?s match against North Carolina. Gard, playing in the middle for Dena Schorn, hit .458 (13-2-24) and collected two block assists.
Freshmen on the Floor: It didn?t take long for Illini freshman Sue Webber to see the court. She played in both matches at Long Beach, collecting three kills in eight attempts in six games. Webber?s classmate Anne Koester, who stands 6-5, made her first appearance as an Illini, seeing limited action against UNC.
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, a fourth-year starter at setter, 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 and is on pace to break the Illinois career kills and digs records.
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 Cal-Santa Barbara, North Carolina, Utah, Louisville and Illinois State. In addition, Illinois will play an exhibition against a team from the new United States Volleyball League.
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 55-41 record in Champaign. In 1998 he took the team back to the NCAA tournament and Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 1995.
Illinois on the Air: Most Illinois volleyball matches, both at home and on the road, are broadcast on WDWS-AM 1400, with Dave Loance calling the action. The broadcasts are also available via the Internet at www.fightingillini.com using RealAudio software.
Weekly Press Luncheon: Every Monday of the season, except for Oct. 4, Don Hardin will be available to the media beginning at 11:45 a.m. at the Memorial Stadium Varsity Room. Media members are welcome to stay for lunch.
1999 University of Illinois Fighting Illini
No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown/High School
1 Heather Wilson** S 5-8 Jr. Rantoul, Ill./Rantoul
2 Annie Stoessel** OH 6-0 Jr. Sumner, Iowa/Sumner
3 Betsy Eiserman S 5-9 Fr. Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest
4 Shadia Haddad* OH 6-0 So. Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Ursula
5 Dena Schorn MB 6-1 Jr. Lostant, Ill./Putnam County
6 Kate Hill OH/DS 5-8 So. White Heath, Ill./Monticello/N?western
7 Sue Webber MB 6-1 Fr. Herscher, Ill./Herscher
8 Tracey Marshall*** OH 5-10 Sr. Bolingbrook, Ill./Downers Grove South
9 Lydia Gard* MB 6-1 So. Champaign, Ill./Centennial
10 Melissa Beitz*** S 5-8 Sr. Strasburg, Ill./Stewardson-Strasburg
11 Lisa Argabright MB/OH 6-5 Fr. Louisville, Ky./Sacred Heart
12 Sara Sorrell*** OH 6-0 Sr. Muncie, Ind./Central
13 Amber Lindner* DS 5-6 So. Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North
14 Betsy Spicer** MB 6-1 Jr. Barrington, Ill./Barrington
15 Anne Koester MB/OH 6-4 Fr. Muncie, Ind./Muncie Burris
Head Coach: Don Hardin (3rd year)
Assistant Coaches: Denise Baez (2nd year), Anne Kordes (1st year)
1999 Season Schedule and Results
Aug. 28 Alumni W, 3-0
Sept. 3-4 Long Beach State Tournament
Sept. 3 Cal-Santa Barbara L, 0-3
Sept. 4 North Carolina L, 2-3
Sept. 8 Illinois State W, 3-1
Sept. 10-11 Illini Classic
Sept. 10 Geo. Mason W, 3-0
Sept. 11 GEORGIA W, 3-0
Sept. 12 USVL (Exh.) L, 0-4
Sept. 17 Europe (Exh.) 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 Louisville 2 p.m.
Sept. 22 Indiana 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 Northwestern 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 Penn State 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 3 Ohio State 1 p.m.
Oct. 8 Purdue 7 p.m.
Oct. 9 Wisconsin 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 Iowa 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 Minnesota 7 p.m.
Oct. 22 Michigan St. 7 p.m.
Oct. 23 Michigan 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 Wisconsin 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 Purdue 7 p.m.
Nov. 5 Ohio State 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 Penn State 7 p.m.
Nov. 10 Indiana 6 p.m.
Nov. 13 N?western 7 p.m.
Nov. 19 Michigan 6 p.m.
Nov. 20 Michigan State 6 p.m.
Nov. 26 Minnesota 7 p.m.
Nov. 27 Iowa 7 p.m.
All times are central and subject to change
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