B1G Release

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball seniors Ali Bastianelli and Jordyn Poulter were tabbed Preseason All-Big Ten as voted on by the Big Ten coaches, with the Illini picked to finish fifth in the league standings in 2018, the conference announced on Tuesday (August 14).  

It is the third-straight season Poulter earned preseason all-conference accolades and the second-straight season for Bastianelli. The duo led the Illini to an NCAA Sweet 16 finish a season ago, while earning American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Third-Team accolades, as well as AVCA All-Northeast Region and All-Big Ten honors.

A unanimous selection to the preseason team, Poulter ranked 13th in the NCAA with 1,357 assists and sat 48th in the nation with a 10.69 assists per set average, leading the Illini to a .276 team hitting percentage - good enough for 17th in the country. She sat second on the team with 116 blocks (0.91 blocks per set), including eight solo stuffs, and 306 digs (2.41 digs per set), while also adding 109 kills (0.86 kills per set) on a .369 attack percentage and 16 service aces. The Aurora, Colorado native was also the only player to rank in the top 15 in both assists and blocks in Big Ten Conference action, sitting seventh with 10.69 assists per set and 0.95 blocks per set in league play.

The top returning blocker in the country, Bastianelli led the Big Ten and ranked second in the NCAA with 199 total blocks and was fourth in the nation and paced the league with 1.60 blocks per set, while also sitting 30th in the county and fifth in conference with a .378 hitting percentage. In conference action, Bastianelli continued to shine, ranking third with a 1.39 blocks per set average and eighth with a .344 attack clip. Along with leading the Illini in blocks and hitting percentage, the Marysville, Michigan also ranked third with 300 kills for a 2.42 kills per set average and added 40 digs, 11 service aces and four assists on the season.

Reigning NCAA and Big Ten Champion Nebraska was chosen as the conference favorite for the 2018 volleyball season as voted on by the Big Ten coaches, while Wisconsin was picked to finish second and Minnesota was tabbed third. 2017 Co-Big Ten Champion Penn State and the Illini round out the preseason poll in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

The Illini are set to open the 2018 season in Fort Collins, Colorado, for the Colorado State Tournament on August 24-25. Fans will be able to get their first look of the team on August 18 for the annual Orange and Blue Scrimmage at 7 p.m. CT.

2018 Preseason All-Big Ten Volleyball Team
Ali Bastianelli, ILL
JORDYN POULTER, ILL
Taylor Louis, IOWA
CARLY SKJODT, MICH
Alexis Hart, MINN
STEPHANIE SAMEDY, MINN
SAMANTHA SELIGER-SWENSON, MINN
MIKAELA FOECKE, NEB
Kenzie Maloney, NEB
Taylor Leath, PSU
Kendall White, PSU
SHERRIDAN ATKINSON, PUR
DANA RETTKE, WIS
Tionna Williams, WIS

UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN CAPS

2018 Big Ten Preseason Poll
1. Nebraska
2. Wisconsin
3. Minnesota
4. Penn State
5. ILLINOIS
6. Michigan
7. Purdue
8. Ohio State
T9. Michigan State
T9. Iowa
11. Northwestern
12. Indiana
13. Maryland
14. Rutgers

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