Aug. 25, 2010

Complete Match Notes in PDF Format

State Farm Illini Classic

When: Aug. 27-28
Where: Huff Hall, Champaign, Ill.
The Field: BYU, Illinois, Middle Tennessee, South Carolina
Schedule: 8/27, 4:30 pm -- Middle Tennessee vs. South Carolina; 8/27, 7 pm -- Illinois vs. BYU; 8/28, 10 am -- Illinois vs. South Carolina; 8/28, Noon -- BYU vs. Middle Tennessee; 8/28, 4:30 pm -- BYU vs. South Carolina; 8/28, 7 pm -- Illinois vs. Middle Tennessee

Radio/Video: All six matches will be streamed live on fightingillini.com. Illinois' Friday and Saturday matches will be live on WDWS (AM 1400). Both Saturday Illinois matches can be heard live on WDAN (AM 1490). Dave Loane and Mike Trame have the call.

Tournament history: Illinois is hosting the Illini Classic for the 27th straight year. Illinois has won 19 of the previous 26 tournaments, including the last four in a row. BYU won the 1987 tournament, defeating Illinois 3-1 in the title match.

Illinois vs. the field: Illinois is 1-0 all-time vs. South Carolina, having defeated the Gamecocks 15-3, 15-2, 15-2 at the Florida Invitational on Sept. 5, 1986. The Illini are 1-2 all-time vs. BYU, with the Cougars claiming the Illini Classic with a 15-6, 15-8, 7-15, 15-9 win over Illinois in 1987 and a 15-10, 15-13, 8-15, 13-15, 16-14 victory in Provo, Utah, in 1988. The Illini won the most recent meeting at BYU in 2002 (32-30, 30-27, 30-26). Illinois and MTSU are meeting for the first time.

DeBruler looks for another all-tourney spot: Laura DeBruler has been named to the all-tournament team at the State Farm Illini Classic each of the past three seasons. She is one of seven players to earn that distinction three times, but no one has been named to that team four times. Other players with three Illini Classic all-tournament honors are Bridget Boyle (1987, `88, `89), Vicki Brown (2005, `06, `07), Mary Eggers (1985, `86, `87), Lorna Henderson (1989, `90, `91), Disa Johnson (1984, `85, `86) and Tracey Marsall (1996, `97, and `98). DeBruler was MVP of last year's tourney.

Illini has No. 6 Pre-Season ranking: Illinois is ranked sixth in the AVCA Preseason rankings. The preseason ranking is the highest for Illinois since being ranked sixth to start the 1993 season. The Illini began and ended last season No. 10 in the poll and this year marks the first time since 1989 and 1990 that Illinois has started consecutive years ranked in the top 10.

The Illini will have a chance to test their ranking in September, which includes matches against No. 1 Penn State (Sept. 24 in Huff Hall) and at No. 2 Nebraska (Sept. 11) and No. 3 Texas (Sept. 3).

Illinois has two matches apiece against Big Ten rivals Minnesota, who is tied with Illinois at No. 6, and Michigan, who checks in at No. 12. Dayton, who is slotted 21st, faces the Illini in Lincoln, Neb., on Sept. 10. Other opponents who received votes include Ohio State, Cincinnati, Michigan State and Wisconsin.

Stuff Huff reaches fifth birthday: One of the fall traditions continues Friday night in the annual Stuff Huff match.Inspired by Illinois' five-set victory over USC in 2004, the Illini marketing department began a promition call Stuff Huff in 2006. It is designed to provide a capacity or near capacity crowd for an electric atmosphere in the home opener. The first event drew 3,129 fans as Illinois defeated Illinois State.

The promotion especially targets students. In that match in 2006, over 1,600 students used their student ID to enter the gate. The first 1,000 students will be treated to food at a cookout in the grass field south of the building. Bruce Weber and members of the Illini men's basketball team will be involved with the cookout then help jam Huff Hall.

Attendance numbers for the previous four "Stuff Huff" crowds (all Illinois victories): 2009 -- Illinois 3, Cincinnati 0 (2,726), 2008 -- Illinois 3, North Carolina 0 (1,989); 2007 -- Illinois 3, Marquette 0 (2,287), 2006 -- Illinois 3, Illinois State 1 (3,129).

Hambly faces former school:
Illinois head coach Kevin Hambly played for BYU from 1992-95, earning two All-America honors and two all-conference accolades.

Hambly had a career .323 attack percentage, including a .348 mark as a senior and tallied 1,222 kills, 458 digs and 533 blocks as a Cougar.

Hambly played professionally then joined the USA Volleyball coaching staff before finishing his degree at Illinois in 2006.