Aug. 14, 2007

Champaign, Ill. - The 2007 Illinois volleyball season officially gets underway this weekend with the annual Alumni Event Saturday at Huff Hall. First serve is at 7 p.m. for the match, which will include three games to 30 and one to 15. Tickets for the event are $5, $4 for faculty/staff, $2 for students 18 and under and U of I students are admitted free of charge. Parking is free on the lot south of Huff Hall.

A total of 13 alumnae will return to face their alma mater, including several recent graduates. Rachel VanMeter '06, who has been playing professionally in Puerto Rico and Korea, will be back, along with teammate Rasa Virsilaite, who has been concentrating on her specialty of sand volleyball. Meghan Macdonald and Stephanie Obermeier from this most recent class will also be on hand to compete.

"We have some strong alums returning," noted Hardin. "Rasa and Rachel are better players now then they were in college. With the depth that we have coming in, we are going to mix it up as much as possible and see how our freshmen respond. They are learning at a good rate, but they are still freshmen. There are a lot things that will come around from them over time that will be phenomenal, but there are a few things that we need to happen right away."

As far as the alumni coming back Hardin said, "It is great to see how many of our alums remain involved in volleyball. It shows they still love the sport. I feel like in coming back they are saying thank you to our program and to the University of Illinois."

Here are biographical sketches of the players returning:

Patricia Albee Beam, 1955-59 - Played for the Illini from 1955-59 • Received her varsity letter as part of the Illinois 3D program held in November, 2003.

Linda Bantz '76 - Former head volleyball coach at Urbana High School

Kathleen Bazzetta, 2001-04, 5-7, DS, Naperville, Ill. (Naperville North H.S.) - Ranks eighth on Illinois' all-time digs list (974) • Played on three NCAA qualifiers, including the 2003 Sweet 16 • Three-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient • Named CoSIDA Academic All-District • Ranked 20th in the Big Ten in digs per game in 2002 (2.63).

Bridget Boyle Hankenson, 5-10, OH, 1986-89, Decatur, Ind. (Bellmont) - Played on Final Four teams in 1987 and 1988 and Big Ten championship teams in 1986, '87 and '88 when the Illini went 53-1 in the conference. • All-Big Ten selection in 1988 and twice was named to the Illini Classic All-Tournament Team

Mary Coleman Hambly 1995-98, 6-1, OH, Chicago, Ill. (Mother MacAuley) - Played on first team coached by Don Hardin • Led Illinois to Sweet 16 in 1998 • Named honorable mention All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten • Ranks second in Illinois history with 1,707 career kills • Played professionally for Minnesota Chill • Served as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Illinois for two seasons (2004-05)

Kelly See Finet, 1, 6-0, MH, Monticello, Ill. (Monticello H.S.) - played on first team coached by Mike Hebert • As a senior tallied 271 kills, 29 aces, 173 digs • Hit a team-best .529 vs. Northwestern.

Kelly Scherr McClure, 1993-96, 5-10, MB, Peosta, Iowa (Wahlert H.S) - In 119 matches, tallied 756 kills, 803 digs, 48 solo blocks and 209 block assists. • Co-captain in her junior year and as captain as a senior • Won the team's Top Gun award for leading the Illini in hitting percentage and twice earned the Sandy Scholtens Award given to the volleyball player who best combines attitude, leadership and athletic ability • First Team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten during her senior year. • Big Ten Medal of Honor

Katie Pratapas, 2003-05, 5-9, DS, Naperville, Ill. (Naperville Central) - Played on two NCAA qualifiers, including the 2003 team that advanced to the Sweet 16

Melissa Vandrey, 2000-03, 6-0, OH, Chicago, Ill. (Queen of Peace H.S.) - Ranks seventh in attack attempts in a season (1168 in 2003) • Ranked second on the team with 306 kills in 2002. • Played on NCAA Teams in 2001 and 2003, including the 2003 Sweet 16.

Rachel VanMeter, 2002-05, 6-3, OH, Lexington, Ky. (Dorman, S.C. H.S.) - Graduated as Illinois leader in attack attempts in a match (99), season (672) and career (4,462) • Named First Team All-Big Ten as a senior after ranking fifth in the nation in kills per game (5.79) • Two-time Big Ten Player of the Week. • Has played professionally in Puerto Rico and Korea.

Rasa Virsilaite, 2002-05, 6-0, OH, Kaunas, Lithuania (Saule Gymnasium) - Earned Illinois Spirit Award • Totaled career-high 23 kills on .442 attack percentage in career finale despite a torn meniscus in her knee • Ranked second in the Big Ten in service aces as a junior, while also being named to the Hurricane Frances Classic All-Tournament team that year.

Sue Webber Jacobson, 1999-2002, 6-1, OH, Herscher, Ill. (Herscher H.S.) - Set a Huff Hall record with seven aces vs. Ohio State (10/19/2002) • Ranks fifth in aces in a season in school history (48) • Member of Illini's 20-20 club with 22 kills and 26 digs vs. Minnesota (10/12/2002) • Led the team in aces in 2001 (45) and 2002 (48) • Played on NCAA Teams in 1999 and 2001, including the 2001 Sweet 16.

Missi Wheeler Whittington, 1984, 5-11, OH, Springfield, Ill. (Sacred Heart) - Totaled 62 kills, 62 digs and 30 blocks in 1984.