2019 ILLINOIS VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE 

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois volleyball team has released its 2019 schedule, which features 29 matches and is highlighted by 11 matches at Huff Hall plus the Orange and Blue Scrimmage. The Illini will take on another strong slate of opponents with 13 NCAA Tournament participants, including seven Sweet 16 teams and three Elite Eight foes and will face national runner-up Nebraska in their Big Ten Conference opener at home on September 27.

Coming off an NCAA National Semifinal appearance in 2018, the Illini will look to solidify themselves as a perennial national contender in head coach Chris Tamas' third season. The 2019 Illini return 10 from last season's squad, while welcoming in eight newcomers.

"I think you always have to schedule tough," said Tamas. "We will always get that with our Big Ten Conference schedule, but I am pleased we were able to get a tough non-conference schedule as well. As a sport, we need to get away from the idea of playing two matches in a day. If played right, our sport is very difficult and demanding. I wanted to make sure our non-conference reflected the challenges we will see in conference. All but one of our non-conference opponents made the tournament last season. You hope that will pay its dividends when it comes to RPI and the potential hosting implications it holds. I want Huff Hall rocking in December again. That place is electric. Of course, we have to get there first. The conference schedule is demanding as ever and fans will enjoy matches against top quality Big Ten opponents throughout the season."

"I am excited to see a rematch of last year's NCAA Final Four match against Nebraska as our opening conference match at home. I think that will be a tournament style atmosphere on that night. Following that, we have a good mix of home and always this year. There are no breaks in our schedule. The Big Ten is as deep as it has ever been. I am looking forward to battling with this team and seeing where the journey takes us. It will allow us to learn a lot of lessons along the way and force us to learn them quickly. I am excited to start training August 10th in preparation for this season."

Due to a tremendous response for new season tickets, reserved season tickets are now sold out and only General Admission season tickets are available for new season ticket holders. Season ticket holders have priority access to any postseason volleyball events that may be hosted at Huff Hall. Season ticket packages include a ticket to every match, including marquee matches against Big Ten Conference opponents and start as low as $60. Fans can also purchase the Volleyball/Women's Basketball Season Ticket Combo Package for just $80. This package includes a general admission ticket to all volleyball and women's basketball home games. Single match tickets will go on sale on Wednesday, August 7. For more information and to purchase season tickets click HERE.

All games and times are subject to change. All times are central standard time.

Schedule Notes
• 29 total matches
• 11 matches at Huff Hall + Orange & Blue Scrimmage
• 12 away matches, six neutral-site matches
• Three non-conference tournaments
    • B1G/Pac-12 Challenge note: Illinois is in its second year of a four-year rotation with Iowa, Washington and Colorado
• Ranked in the final AVCA poll: 14 matches vs. 10 teams, 1 match vs. RV
• RPI Top 50: 16 matches vs. 12 teams
• 2018 Conference Champions/Tournament Champions: 3 (Illinois State, UCF, Minnesota)

• NCAA Tournament:
    • Qualifiers: 13 (Tennessee, Washington, Colorado, Illinois State, UCF, Marquette, Loyola Marymount, Nebraska, Purdue, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan)
    • NCAA Second Round: 10 (Loyola Marymount, Tennessee, Washington, Penn State, Michigan, Marquette, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Purdue, Minnesota)
    • Sweet 16: 7 (Washington, Marquette, Penn State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota)
    • Elite Eight: 3 (Nebraska, Penn State, Wisconsin)
    • National Runner-Up: 1 (Nebraska | Sept 27)

• Season opener: August 30 at Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.
• Home opener: September 1 vs. Tennessee
• B1G opener & B1G home opener: September 27 vs. Nebraska
• NCAA Tournament First & Second Rounds: Dec. 5-7 at campus sites
• NCAA Tournament Regionals: Dec. 13-14 at campus sites
• NCAA Tournament Semifinals & Championship: Dec. 19 & 21 PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa.

For more Fighting Illini volleyball news, stay tuned to FightingIllini.com and follow @IlliniVBall on social media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook.

	at Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn. August 30 // 7 p.m.
	Tennessee Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. September 1 // 1 p.m.
	B1G/Pac12 Challenge | Hosted by Iowa at Iowa City, Iowa. // September 6-7 September 6 vs. Washington // 4 p.m. September 7 vs. Colorado // 4 p.m.
	Redbird Classic | Hosted by Illinois State at Normal, Ill. // September 13-14 September 13 at Illinois State // 7 p.m. September 14 vs. UCF // 10 a.m. September 14 vs. Marquette // 7:30 p.m.
	Bulldog Brawl | Hosted by Butler at Indianapolis, Ind. // September 20-21 September 20 vs. Pacific // 11 a.m. September 21 vs. Loyola Marymount // 8 a.m.
	Nebraska Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. September 27 // 7 p.m.
	Iowa Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. September 28 // 7 p.m.
	at Indiana Wilkinson Hall // Bloomington, Ind. October 4 // 6 p.m.
	at Purdue Holloway Gymnasium // West Lafayette, Ind. October 5 // 6 p.m.
	Minnesota Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. October 9 // 7 p.m.
	Indiana Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. October 12 // 7 p.m.
	at Wisconsin UW Fieldhouse // Madison, Wis. October 18 // 7 p.m.
	at Minnesota Maturi Pavilion // Minnesota, Minn.  October 19 // TBA
	at Penn State Rec Hall // University Park, Pa. October 23 // TBA
	Ohio State Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. October 26 // 7 p.m.
	Michigan Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. November 1 // 7 p.m.
	Michigan State Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. November 2 // 7 p.m.
	at Iowa Carver-Hawkeye Arena // Iowa City, Iowa November 6 // 7 p.m.
	at Michigan Cliff Keen Arena // Ann Arbor, Mich. November 9 // TBA
	Penn State Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. November 15 // 7 p.m.
	Rutgers Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. November 16 // 7 p.m.
	at Maryland  XFINITY Center // College Park, Md. November 22 // TBA
	at Ohio State Covelli Center // Colmbus, Ohio November 23 // TBA
	Northwestern Huff Hall // Champaign, Ill. November 27 // 7 p.m.
	Northwestern Welsh-Ryan Arena // Evanston, Ill. November 30 // TBA
	NCAA Tournament NCAA First & Second Rounds // December 5-7 // Campus Sites NCAA Regionals // December 13-14 // Campus Sites NCAA Semifinals // Dec. 19 // PPG Paints Arena // Pittsburgh, Pa. NCAA Championship // Dec. 21 // PPG Paints Arena // Pittsburgh, Pa