Aug. 20, 2010
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -
As students begin to move in and with classes less than a week away, attention turns to what has become a rite of autumn on the Illinois campus. Inspired by the 2004 victory over top-ranked Southern Cal in the championship match of the Illini Classic that saw over 3,000 fans pack Huff in an incredible atmosphere, the Illini began a tradition of choosing a key early non-conference match to "Stuff Huff." It has traditionally been the first home match of the season and 2010 is no exception.
On Friday, Aug. 27, Illinois entertains the school where Kevin Hambly played volleyball, BYU, at 7 p.m. in the first night of the State Farm Illini Classic in "Stuff Huff" presented by WDWS/WHMS and the News-Gazette. It begins a season that many are sensing could be extremely special. Illinois is No. 6 in the nation, its highest preseason ranking since 1993 and the first time since 1989 and 1990 that the Illini have been ranked in the Top 10 to start back-to-back seasons.
Illinois has drawn over 2,000 fans for the event each of the past four years, including a crowd of 3,129, the largest in 14 years, in a four-set victory over Illinois State in 2006. That year, over 1,600 University of Illinois students packed Huff to add to the tremendous atmosphere.
Besides providing a great venue for Illinois students, men's basketball coach Bruce Weber has also been a big supporter of Illinois volleyball and takes in has many matches as he can. Coach Weber and the men's basketball team will once again help serve a free cookout for the first 1,000 University of Illinois students behind Huff from 5:30-6:45 p.m. then step inside to enjoy the match. The event will also serve as a membership drive for Illini Pride and Orange Krush.
"Stuff Huff is always a tremendous way for our Illinois students and the entire community to get the Fighting Illini sports year started in style," Illinois assistant athletics director Chris Hanna said. "We always attract a great crowd of orange clad fans for Stuff Huff and, given the team's consecutive Sweet Sixteen appearances and its preseason ranking, we fully anticipate an even larger crowd this season. The environment should be nothing short of electric. Kevin Hambly has a great team in place and this is a great way to start the year with a bang."
"It is something we look forward to each year," said senior All-American outside hitter and fan favorite Laura DeBruler. "The student crowd is amazing and the support we get from the community makes for a great excitement for our team."
"The Stuff Huff event is truly one of the special events on campus," said head coach Kevin Hambly.
"Without question it is the most well attended matches by students and one of the most attended by the community. Stuff Huff has always been my favorite event on campus."
Illinois faces South Carolina (10 am) and Middle Tennessee State (7 pm) on Saturday, Aug. 28 in the other matches in the tournament. The Illini are hoping to gain some momentum heading into September, when they play the top three teams in the country - Penn State, Nebraska and Texas - in reverse order.
