Oct. 20, 2008

Champaign, Ill. - Illinois volleyball is back on the national scene in 2008 and Wednesday fans of the Illini are encouraged to show the nation just how great an atmosphere Huff Hall can be for the sport.

Illinois meets Purdue at 7 pm in a match televised nationally by the Big Ten Network. The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics is planning an "Orange Out" for that night encouraging all fans to dress from head to toe in orange. The first 200 people in the building dressed in orange will receive a free T-shirt and prizes will be given for the "best dressed."

"Walking into Huff Hall on game night is a magical feeling," said Illinois head coach Don Hardin. "Our fans are among the most knowledgeable in the country. No numbers can match the intensity of a great volleyball match at Huff. We're looking forward to sharing the night with our fans. They should be entertained with great volleyball."

The Illinois-Purdue match-up pits teams deadlocked for third place in the Big Ten and who are both ranked in the top 25. The Illini already have three wins over ranked teams this season, including a comeback victory over Oregon, who entered last week ranked seventh in the country. Illinois enters the match 14-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big Ten. The Illini are ranked eighth in the latest RPI ratings and have had one of the toughest schedules in the country.