Nov. 26, 2007
Complete Schedule in PDF Format
URBANA, Ill. - Illinois head coach Terri Sullivan announced an aggressive 2008 schedule on Monday that will give the Fighting Illini a chance to play some of the top teams in collegiate softball. With 15 letterwinners returning from the 2007 squad, the Illini are poised for the upcoming season that features 15 NCAA Tournament qualifiers from last season.
"We are really looking forward to the 2008 season," Sullivan said. "Returning players have been ready since the season ended last year to get going again, and I think our new players really look forward to representing Illinois and putting it all together.
"We have a monster schedule in the February-March portion. Every tournament that we go to presents a great challenge, and I always say the challenge brings opportunity."
Illinois will play eight teams from the 2007 NCAA Super Regionals, with four of those teams qualifying for the College World Series. Within the first month of the season, the Orange and Blue will compete against five teams that finished the 2007 slate in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25.
Illinois begins the season in Tampa at the South Florida Tournament on Feb. 8-10 where they will encounter Florida, which advanced to the 2007 Super Regionals and returns two all-Americans. Sullivan and the Illini then return to the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas on Feb. 15-17. There they face a pair of 2007 NCAA tournament teams in Oklahoma and UCLA. After tournament stops in Miami and Boca Raton, Fla., the Orange and Blue return to College Station, Texas for the Aggie Classic on March 7-9, facing a Texas A&M squad that made a 2007 College World Series appearance.
"It's been clear through NCAA Regionals and in the big picture that what you do in February and March really counts," Sullivan said. "Wins over top programs from other conferences and other regions really play a factor in earning postseason bids."
The Illini conclude the tournament part of their spring in Fullerton, Calif., on March 20-22 at the Judi Garman Classic. The tournament features College World Series participant Arizona State along with 2007 top-25 finisher Fresno State.
Three days after the team returns from California, the Orange and Blue travel to Illinois associate head coach Donna DiBiase's alma mater, Illinois-Chicago, before hosting Sullivan's alma mater, Loyola (Ill.) on March 27.
The 2008 Big Ten season begins for Illinois on March 30 when the Illini face Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio. Sullivan aims for her team to be prepared for conference play from the get-go, as three conference counterparts finished 2007 in the top-25.
"Year in and year out, the Big Ten is tough," Sullivan said. "There is a whole different feel once you get to conference play. There's a sense of pride playing in the conference. Everybody brings their best."
Three days later, the Orange and Blue christen Eichelberger Field at Martin Stadium with a contest against Eastern Illinois. The April 2 doubleheader is the first of 11 home dates on the 2008 schedule. The Illini travel to Penn State and NCAA Super Regional-qualifier Michigan before hosting Northwestern, a 2007 College World Series participant, on April 11-12. The home stretch continues with games Michigan State, Illinois State, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Orange and Blue then hit the road again to DePaul, Indiana and Purdue before returning home to host in-state foe Southern Illinois on April 30. Illinois concludes the regular season with a pair of weekend games against Iowa on May 3 and 4. May 3 features an annual crowd pleaser, the World's Largest Softball Tailgate.
