Aug. 19, 2009

Champaign, Ill. - The 2009 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 be played with the best-of-five format. Tickets for the event are $5 for the public, $4 for faculty/staff, $2 for students, U of I students are admitted free of charge.

A total of 15 alumnae will return to face their alma mater, including several recent graduates. Lizzie Bazzetta and Kristine Anderson of the recent class from last year's class will be back. Bazzetta and sister, Kathleen, will play together for the first time.

Here are biographical sketches of the players returning (*denotes playing in the match):

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.

* Stefanie Alde, 2006-07, 6-1, OH, Libertyville, Ill. (Libertyville H.S.) - Transferred from Northwestern and played her final two seasons at Illinois • Had 14 double-digit kills matches during her senior year, including 20 kills while hitting .457 against Penn State • Academic All-Big Ten performer.

* Kristine Anderson, 2006-08, 5-4, DS, Clinton, Ill. (Clinton H.S.) - Transferred to Illinois from Parkland College • Started the first six matches of her sophomore year before suffering the first of two ACL injuries • Had 18 digs against Penn State followed by 10 vs. Ohio State in the same weekend of her junior season

* Kathleen Bazzetta, 2001-04, 5-7, DS, Naperville, Ill. (Naperville North H.S.) - Ranks ninth 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).

* Lizzie Bazzetta, 2005-08, 5-10, S, Naperville, Ill. (Naperville North H.S.) - Ended her career ranked fourth on Illinois' all-time assists list with 3,847 • Three-time Academic All-Big Ten performer • Four-year starter at setter • Named to the all-tournament team at the 2007 State Farm Illini Classic and to the 2006 Marquette Kickoff Tournament • Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 2, 2006.

Sue Bochte Kleber, 1974-76, 5-9, Naperville, Ill. (Naperville Central) - Played on first Illinois varsity team coached by Terry Hite.

* Vicki Brown, 2004-07, 6-2, MB, Toledo, Ohio (Roy C. Start) - Two-time Honorable Mention All-Big Ten • Named MVP of the State Farm Illini Classic in both 2006 and 2007 • Named to the eight all-tournament teams in her career • Reached 1,000 career kills on Nov. 3, 2007 • Ranked ninth in the Big Ten in attack percentage (.324) in 2006.

* Shadia Haddad, 1998-2001, 6-0, OH, Cincinnati, Ohio (St. Ursula Academy) - Played on two NCAA qualifying teams, including the 1998 Sweet 16 • Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2001 • All-Big Ten selection • Holds the Huff Hall single-match record with five solo blocks vs. Indiana in 2001 • Ranks ninth on the Illini single-season kills list (491) and tenth on the single-season digs list (371) with her performances in 2000 • Ranks eighth in kills (1,228) and 10th in digs (962) on those all-time career lists.

* 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)

Lydia Ferguson Gard, 1998-2001, 6-1, MB, Champaign, Ill. (Champaign Centennial H.S.) - Led the Illini in total blocks (122) in 2000 • Four-year letterwinner • Ranks eighth on the Illinois career attack percentage list (.320) • Led Illinois with a .382 attack percentage in 2001 • Four-time Academic All-Big Ten performer • Won the Jim Bayne award for academic excellence in 2001.

* Meghan Macdonald, 6-1, MB/OH, Downers Grove, Ill. (Downers Grove South H.S.) - Set Illinois' single-match record for attack percentage with a 1.000 effort (12-0-12) vs. Indiana • Posted a .293 career attack percentage • Ranked fifth in the Big Ten in aces per game (0.38) while also ranking eighth in the league in blocks per game (1.17) in overall matches and sixth in the Big Ten in blocks in conference only matches (1.27) as a senior • Named the state of Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year in high school.

* 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

Sandy Scholtens Hamilton, 1985-88, 5-7, OH, Downers Grove, Ill. (Downers Grove North H.S.) - Has an award named after her at the annual Networkers banquet • Led Illinois in digs in 1986 with 285 • Named a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American in 1987 • Had six aces in the regional semifinal victory over Western Michigan • Played on two Final Four teams.

* Kelly See Finet, 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.

Betsy Spicer Brookbank, 1997-2000, 6-1, MB, Barrington, Ill. (Barrington H.S.) - Earned First Team All-Big Ten in both 1999 and 2000 while also earning AVCA All-District honors twice • Ranked fourth in the Big Ten in attack percentage (.333) during her junior season • Ranks seventh on Illinois' all-time kills list (1,245) • Earned Big Ten Medal of Honor as a senior • Helped Illinois to Sweet 16 in 1998.