2014 Final Notes

Champaign, Ill. - The Fighting Illini continued the volleyball program's tradition of success in 2014 as an experienced team with a uniquely strong sense of team chemistry. Finishing the season with a 26-8 final record and seven victories over ranked opponents, the No. 11 Illini placed third in the Big Ten (16-4) and reached the NCAA Regional for the fifth time in six years.

Returning all-but-one starter from 2013 and gaining two new members in January, the Illini had a full team of 16 student-athletes for eight whole months before hitting the court on opening day. The biggest question of the offseason, how would Illinois replace all-time digs leader Jennifer Beltran, was answered quickly on the court, as Brandi Donnelly rapidly emerged as one of the premier liberos in the Big Ten, earning three Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, the Creighton Classic Most Valuable Player award and a Big Ten All-Freshman Team nod.

The addition of sophomore Allison Palmer, who transferred from Arizona State after setting the Sun Devils' single-season assists record in 2012, led head coach Kevin Hambly to employ a 6-2 rotation with Palmer and returning setter Alexis Viliunas for the first time in his tenure. Additionally, sophomore Katie Stadick proved herself a force to be reckoned with on the block throughout the spring, earning herself a starting role at middle blocker for opening day.

The Illini began the 2014 season in style, sweeping through the Illini Classic without dropping a set, including sweeps of Long Beach State and then-No. 20 North Carolina, who would both finish the season in the top 25. Liz McMahon was named Illini Classic Most Valuable Player and subsequently Big Ten Player of the Week, marking the first of many honors for the opposite hitter in her fruitful senior campaign.

Illinois hit a skid on the West Coast, coming out flat against UCLA and taking its first and only 3-0 loss of the season in the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge. However, the Illini rebounded to take soon-to-be-No. 1 Stanford, fresh off an epic victory over No. 1 Penn State, down to the wire before falling in five sets to the Cardinal, who would remain undefeated No. 1 until the final week of the regular season.

Illinois returned to the Midwest for the final two pre-conference tournaments, winning the Blue Raider Bash and the Creighton Classic with wins over quality opponents Creighton, Colorado and South Dakota.

After nearly a month on the road, the Illini opened Big Ten play with four home matches at Huff Hall. The Orange and Blue blew past conference newcomers Maryland and Rutgers, then swept No. 18 Minnesota live on the Big Ten Network to extend their home winning streak to 18 straight sets. McMahon put on a show on the right side, hitting .310 with 19 kills, seven blocks and two aces in the three-set victory.

On Oct. 4, the Orange and Blue hosted 2013 NCAA Runner-Up No. 6 Wisconsin on IlliNOISE Night. Fans came out in droves for a night to remember, as the Illini recorded the largest crowd in Huff Hall history at 4,536 fans and registered a decibel reading of 105 dB in an effort to prove that the Illini have the greatest NCAA volleyball venue in the nation.

Throughout the season, the Illini faithful showed their support, on the road and at home, as Illinois averaged over 3,000 fans per match for the second year in a row, ranking ninth in the nation and registering the largest regular-season crowd average in Huff Hall history.

A disappointing trip to Columbus led Coach Hambly to make a lineup change, opting to return to the 5-1 formation with Viliunas as the Illini's lone setter to help create consistency for the Illini hitters. The change could not have come at a better time, as the Illini were headed into the most hostile environment in the country, home of the defending national champion Penn State Nittany Lions. The hosts raced out to a 19-8 lead in the first set behind some of the toughest servers in the nation, but the Illini regrouped to pull off the unthinkable, surging back to take the first set 26-24 and win the match, 3-1. Entering the night, Penn State had won 94 of its last 96 home Big Ten contests, with one of those two losses coming at the hands of Illinois in 2011, but Illinois was unshaken by the packed house, as for the third time in five years, the Illini took down the soon-to-be national champions.

The road sparks continued to fly one week later, when Illinois achieved a feat few ever have, knocking off No. 13 Nebraska in their house in front of a sold out crowd of over 8,000 to become the third team in NCAA history and first in 23 years to defeat Penn State and Nebraska on their home courts in the same season.

The victory in Lincoln was one of seven straight, including a home win over No. 13 Purdue and a comeback win in Ann Arbor. The Illini would complete conference play at 16-4 with additional ranked wins over No. 17 Ohio State and No. 10 Nebraska to finish the season in third place and earn the #9 overall seed for the NCAA Tournament.

The Fighting Illini had the privilege of hosting the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time in program history, and swept Murray State and Iowa State to reach their 15th NCAA Regional, hosted by the Cyclones in Ames, Iowa. In an exciting battle that was as close as they come, #8-seed Florida edged the Illini in a five-set thriller to end Illinois' season in the Sweet 16 for the second straight season.

The Illini won a host of honors throughout the year, as five Illini took home eight Big Ten weekly awards. In addition to Donnelly's three rookie nods, McMahon and Jocelynn Birks were both named Big Ten Player of the Week in September, Stadick earned back-to-back Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors in October, and Viliunas took home Big Ten Setter of the Week on Oct. 20.

After leading the Big Ten in kills, points and double-doubles, Birks repeated as a unanimous All-Big Ten selection, earned AVCA All-Northeast Region, and was named a Second Team AVCA All-American. The junior outside hitter became the second Illini to register three 500-kill seasons, and is just 296 kills away from taking over as Illinois' all-time kills leader.

McMahon earned her fourth consecutive Big Ten postseason award with an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, then picked up All-Region honors and an All-America Honorable Mention. However, more impressive than her athletic honors, McMahon became the first Illini ever to earn the prestigious Senior CLASS Award, due in large part to leading all 10 finalists by collecting over 30 percent of the national fan vote. Additionally, her efforts in the classroom led to a Capitol One Academic All-District Second Team nod.

Anna Dorn also impressed on the court and in the classroom as the first Illini in program history to earn three Academic All-District First Team selections, followed by becoming the fourth Illini ever to be named Academic All-American.

The senior duo left their mark in several categories in the Illini record books, as Dorn registered the second-most career block assists (530) in program history and ranked fourth in total blocks (548), fifth in sets played (494) and sixth in hitting percentage (.348). McMahon finished in the top 10 in kills, attacks, points, block assists, sets and matches played. Additionally, with a full season left to play, Birks already ranks eighth in both kills and points and fourth in total attacks, and is on pace to break all three records next fall.

The end of the season marked a bittersweet farewell to three Illini starting attackers, Dorn, McMahon and Morganne Criswell. Rated No. 33 in her class as a recruit, Criswell battled through injuries for much of the season to register 282 kills and 54 blocks. She came through big time in some key situations, exploding for 21 kills in the Illini's memorable victory at No. 13 Nebraska and connecting on two crucial kills in the final frame of her career to tie the score at 14-14 in the Sweet 16 before the Illini's season came to an end.

Less than two weeks after the season ended, McMahon signed a professional contract with Valencianas Juncos in Puerto Rico, where she will continue to sport #14.