Aug. 24, 2002
Champaign, Ill. -
The Illinois Blue squad defeated the Orange squad tonight in an exhibition match as part of the annual volleyball alumni event, played in front of 621 fans at Huff Hall. The Blue team won game one 30-23 and game two 30-27. After an intermission, which featured an alumni game, the Illini returned to the court for a third and final game, with the Orange team posting a 15-13 victory.
The 12-player Illinois roster was divided into two teams of six players each. The Blue team included seniors Betsy Eiserman and Sue Webber, juniors Lisa Argabright and Melissa Vandrey, sophomore Kathleen Bazzetta and freshman Rasa Virsilaite. The Orange team consisted of junior Shelly O'Bryan, sophomores Erin Virtue, Jessica Belter and Lauren Harks, and freshmen Meg Griffin and Rachel VanMeter.
Argabright led the Blue team with a match-high 13 kills, while Webber added 12 kills and Vandrey tallied 11 digs. Leading the way for the Orange squad were Belter (team-high 11 kills) and Harks (match-high 17 digs). Both setters performed well throughout the evening, with Eiserman and Virtue leading their respective teams.
"I liked the competitiveness of our scrimmage," Head Coach Don Hardin said. "In the first game, the Orange team fought their way back from a big deficit. They made it even closer in the second game, and finally won the third game. But in the end, I thought the experienced tandem of Betsy (Eiserman) and Lisa (Argabright) won out. It was an impressive performance by both sides."
The alumni also got into the action, dividing into two teams and playing a game against each other during the intermission of Illinois' scrimmage. The alumni "south" squad defeated the alumni "north" squad by a final score of 30-27.
"I thought we had a great turnout from our alums, and I know our team and our fans really appreciate them coming back for this event," Hardin said. "It's always a lot of fun and something our program looks forward to each year."
The Illini open the 2002 season next weekend at the University Centre Hotel Invitational, hosted by the University of Florida. The Illini will face Rhode Island and Alabama-Birmingham on Aug. 30 and No. 7 Florida on Aug. 31.
