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Post by oldmanvb on Dec 9, 2021 23:58:38 GMT -5
Cooney not making the trip appears to have robbed the Illini of some of their confidence. What a sad way for her to finish a spectacular career. She will be missed.
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Post by exit237a on Dec 10, 2021 0:00:44 GMT -5
Really proud of the way the Illini battled tonight against the odds. I'm gutted for Cooney that she wasn't able to play in one more match in the orange and blue and hope she gets well soon!
I-L-L
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Post by exit237a on Dec 10, 2021 0:42:45 GMT -5
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Post by vbkahuna on Dec 10, 2021 1:39:30 GMT -5
The Illini should be very proud of their playoff run. Unranked and underrated, they made the Sweet 16 in a spectacular way with the huge victory over last year's National Champion last weekend. It's too bad we couldn't have seen what they could do with the full team that beat Kentucky, but there's no need for what ifs. What they already accomplished is worth savoring, and more than some very good teams that didn't make it this far.
The emergence of Raina Terry as a genuine star, and only a sophomore, is something special to look forward to next year.
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Post by ted_heise on Dec 10, 2021 6:40:59 GMT -5
The Illini should be very proud of their playoff run. Unranked and underrated, they made the Sweet 16 in a spectacular way with the huge victory over last year's National Champion last weekend. It's too bad we couldn't have seen what they could do with the full team that beat Kentucky, but there's no need for what ifs. What they already accomplished is worth savoring, and more than some very good teams that didn't make it this far. The emergence of Raina Terry as a genuine star, and only a sophomore, is something special to look forward to next year. Well said. Loved watching the Illini this year. |
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Dec 10, 2021 8:51:30 GMT -5
The Illini should be very proud of their playoff run. Unranked and underrated, they made the Sweet 16 in a spectacular way with the huge victory over last year's National Champion last weekend. It's too bad we couldn't have seen what they could do with the full team that beat Kentucky, but there's no need for what ifs. What they already accomplished is worth savoring, and more than some very good teams that didn't make it this far. The emergence of Raina Terry as a genuine star, and only a sophomore, is something special to look forward to next year. Well said. Loved watching the Illini this year. I heartily agree with both comments! And, major kudos to Illini AD Whitman and his Illinois athletic department for showing its commitment to the Illinois volleyball program. |
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Post by Pasquale on Dec 10, 2021 10:46:22 GMT -5
Congrats to the team and coaching staff for another great season. They beat three Top 10 teams on their opponents' home courts and advanced to the Sweet 16. I'm already looking forward to next year and the return of Ellie Holzman. It will be exciting to have her and Terry on the court together. Hopefully, Super Kuper will return for another season and we can build on the success of this year.
exit236a, you do such a great job of creating match threads, do you want to create a 2022 Illinois thread?
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Post by liberovb10 on Dec 10, 2021 13:57:10 GMT -5
one last note to close out the 2021 season. What a roller coaster it’s been, but what a fun ride it’s been. This team had some great wins and they never wavered or looked defeated on the court. We often talk about Grit and Toughness and I think this squad did a great job of displaying both of those attributes. Megan Cooney: thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for a great five years. You really left it out on the court every single time and while I know she was needed last night, I’m happy in the sense that her last time in uniform was in a big time win over Kentucky. I’m not sure what her profesional career aspirations are, but I wouldn’t want her to hang up the knee pads just yet. Bruder, what a warrior. Although she didn’t get a lot of time setting, I’m glad the Covid season allowed her to play and showcase her skills against some quality B1G opponents. Super Kuper, I hope she comes back and gives Caroline one more year of experience before she anchors our defense in the coming years.
This team has a lot of pieces to be great next season, but we do need more depth at the pins. I would have loved to see Kyla or Maddie on the right while leaving Kennedy in the middle…but I feel good about Chris’ judgement and what he’s seeing in the practice gym. As painful as this is, I’ll be cheering for the Badgers, Boilermakers, Huskers and Huskers tomorrow. Let’s go for a 3 of 4 B1G representation in the Final Four!
I-L-L
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Post by oldmanvb on Dec 10, 2021 16:00:29 GMT -5
Sadly ironic that Megan Cooney did not play in the first two matches of her career and the last match of her career. She did not play against Maryland last spring. Otherwise she was a fixture on the court. She was put into the second set of the third match of her freshman year, against Air Force, and started every other match of her long Illinois career. She was not the most heralded of her freshman class, but she sure made more of a mark on Illinois volleyball than any of her classmates. She also showed she could grow as a volleyball player by turning herself into a six rotation player. Her backrow improvement was a big part of the team's steady improvement this year. It will be strange not seeing her on the court this spring. Class act.
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Post by exit237a on Dec 10, 2021 17:46:34 GMT -5
Congrats to the team and coaching staff for another great season. They beat three Top 10 teams on their opponents' home courts and advanced to the Sweet 16. I'm already looking forward to next year and the return of Ellie Holzman. It will be exciting to have her and Terry on the court together. Hopefully, Super Kuper will return for another season and we can build on the success of this year. exit236a, you do such a great job of creating match threads, do you want to create a 2022 Illinois thread? Thanks, Pasquale! I'd love to make a 2022 thread for us! I'll try to get one up in the next week as we start to turn our eyes to next season. |
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Post by Pasquale on Dec 10, 2021 20:45:27 GMT -5
Congrats to the team and coaching staff for another great season. They beat three Top 10 teams on their opponents' home courts and advanced to the Sweet 16. I'm already looking forward to next year and the return of Ellie Holzman. It will be exciting to have her and Terry on the court together. Hopefully, Super Kuper will return for another season and we can build on the success of this year. exit236a, you do such a great job of creating match threads, do you want to create a 2022 Illinois thread? Thanks, Pasquale! I'd love to make a 2022 thread for us! I'll try to get one up in the next week as we start to turn our eyes to next season. Thanks, exit236a. Please create it at your convenience. My eyes are already turned to next season. Raina has AA potential, Ellie should be healthy, our middles have improved significantly and there’s lots of young talent (Mosher and Stephenson are going to be very good players). Fingers are crossed that Kuper returns. |
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Post by ilalum92 on Dec 12, 2021 12:43:05 GMT -5
Kudos to the team this year for making the Sweet 16. This season was awful for my blood pressure!
Looking forward to next year and what another year of weights and practice will bring. We had monumental jumps by Collins & Swanson, Raina coming into her own, Brown taking charge & Kuper being Kuper. Nunge came in as a transfer and fit right in with the team. Whittington stepping up when needed & Barnes getting a trial by fire. Bruder for coming off the bench and giving some stready serving and back row defense. Hopefully Ellie and Bruna healthy and some big recruits coming in - we are poised for a big run next year!
To Megan Cooney: thank you for epitomizing what ILLINI volleyball is all about. 5 years of hard work, grit, determination and showing up every night with the never say die attitude. The ILLINI fan base thanks you for everything you have done for the program. Best of luck if you turn pro!
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Post by ilikecorn on Dec 12, 2021 14:49:03 GMT -5
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Post by ted_heise on Dec 12, 2021 16:17:56 GMT -5
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Post by exit237a on Dec 13, 2021 16:03:04 GMT -5
I had some time and put together an Illinois 2022 thread here: Illinois 2022. I'll be making updates to the first post throughout the offseason so this current version is a framework. Looking forward to continuing our offseason conversation! |
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