After spending the entirety of its non-conference schedule on the road, Illinois returns to Huff Hall to open Big Ten play this weekend. Sitting at 5-5, the Fighting Illini will host its first home matches of the season against Big Ten opposition, something setter Diana Brown is especially looking forward to in her fifth season in Champaign.
"It is going to be weird that the first time that we're playing in Huff against anyone but ourselves is going to be Big Ten, but that's what we signed up for," Brown said. "Every night in the Big Ten is a battle, so we have to expect anything and everything from all the teams. That might be a little bit of a challenge with it being our first night in Huff, but I think anywhere, on the road or at home, it's still us against them.
"As long as we can stay strong and together, I think that it shouldn't be an issue."
The Illini volleyball squad traveled all over the country during its non-conference slate, playing in Mississippi, Colorado, Ohio, Wisconsin, and at Eastern Illinois. That four-week stretch also featured matches against several ranked opponents, including Georgia Tech, Washington, and Marquette.
With eight Big Ten schools earning a berth in the 2021 NCAA tournament, which also featured two B1G teams in the championship match, head coach Chris Tamas says he always makes it an emphasis to create a challenging non-conference campaign.
Six of the team's 10 matches thus far have come against tournament teams, and with conference play around the corner, the Illini will square off with several more throughout the season.
"You need to challenge yourself to figure out what your team's about and where you need to make improvements," Tamas said. "If you never play teams and those issues don't get addressed, I'm not sure what you learn about yourself in pre-conference play. We have to continually put ourselves in those pressure situations and keep trying to rise above it."
Both Brown and middle blocker Kennedy Collins say the time on the road took a toll on their mindsets and bodies, but the return to Champaign this weekend will help flip the switch and get the team back on track.
Over 300 days have passed since the last time Illinois played a match at Huff Hall, and the Illini will take on the same opponent on Friday when it welcomes to Maryland to town.
"I'm so excited. I miss playing in Huff," Collins said. "I just miss having all the fans on our side. Obviously being on the road for months, everybody was against us. Just having that environment where everybody's supporting us, I think it's gonna be fun. I'm very excited."
Huff Hall will have a different look this season with a brand-new video board on the south wall of the gym. Tamas, Brown, and Collins are all excited for the technological upgrade, and they all agree that it will be a game-changer for both the player and fan experiences.
"It's awesome, and it's huge," Tamas said. "I didn't expect it to be that big. I was told it was going to be about the size of the old scoreboard, but it's probably about twice the size. It's going to really enhance the game atmosphere, the game environment. I think for both players and fans alike, it's going to be a much upgraded experience, and we're looking forward to being back in there with everyone cheering for us."
Though the video board brings a new look to the historic Huff Hall, the same things that make playing in Champaign special – the opportunity for fans to sit close to the court, the acoustics that allow for sounds to bounce off the walls and course through your body – will be back for another season.
Playing in such a stacked and talented volleyball conference, the Illini will look to establish a homecourt advantage, and the energy from the Illinois pep band, Spike Squad, fans, players, and coaches will make opponents uncomfortable and scared to travel to Champaign.
"I've been in a lot of gyms in my career, and when Huff gets going, it's probably one of the loudest places I've been in," Tamas said. "If we need a pick-up, I know the crowd's gonna be behind us. I think the general feel of Huff is it's a little bit tighter space overall, so if you're not used to playing in that tight of space, for opponents, I think it's tough to adjust to.
"I think it's a great environment, and I know fans enjoy it. I know it's difficult if you're an away team when the fans are right next to you and you can hear the yells from 10 feet away, so it's really nice to have that home court advantage."
Illinois is back at Huff for a three-match homestand to open conference play, starting with Maryland on Friday at 8 p.m. and Northwestern on Saturday at 7 p.m.
The Illini will close that three-match set next Friday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. when it takes on No. 11 Purdue.
"Everyone in the Big Ten right now is 0-0 in conference play," Brown said. "A new season starts this weekend, and we have to look forward."
