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Post by bucky415 on Mar 18, 2022 23:39:52 GMT -5
Needs to improve volleyball facilities. [br Are Illinois and Penn State the only 2 winning Big Ten teams with horrible volleyball facilities? Okay, so I am a Wisconsin guy and have not been there since 2005, I think, when I finally got to see a Wisconsin win, but is Huff actually a horrible volleyball facility? Amenities were limited, but the fans were on top of the action, and the student section was great, so that could be a hellish combination for opponents with a good Illini team. |
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Mar 19, 2022 5:56:48 GMT -5
Excellent news about the contract extension and salary increase. Now Whitman needs to find a women's basketball coach who can turn the program around. I am rooting for Illinois State's coach Kristen Gillespie. Although the 'Birds' were trounced by an excellent Iowa team in Iowa City in the first round of the NCAA's, Gillespie has taken ISU to their first NCAA tourney since 2008. Coach Gillespie is a young coach who I believe has a bright coaching future. I hope that future is coaching the Illini! |
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Post by oldmanvb on Mar 19, 2022 7:45:28 GMT -5
Horrible? No. Terrible seats for anyone who is not sitting in the lower level between the baselines. Inadequate locker and training facilities for players. Hot weather is an issue with no AC, bad for fans and bad for August pre-season, although giant fans creating drafts that make hard floater serves move probably helps our serves. Iowa on an ice rink is NOT the answer, as fans are far from the court and surface tends to become slippery. tOSU did it right. We will have a challenge competing with the top programs from Huff. Purely a guess, but I believe we could average an additional 1000-1500 fans with a more fan friendly arena, probably and unfortunately not enough to justify a $20M new building. Those who now have season tickets have a good spectating experience and crowd noise is a plus in big matches. Everyone also not so much.
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Post by cathy5 on Mar 19, 2022 8:26:40 GMT -5
Horrible? No. Terrible seats for anyone who is not sitting in the lower level between the baselines. Inadequate locker and training facilities for players. Hot weather is an issue with no AC, bad for fans and bad for August pre-season, although giant fans creating drafts that make hard floater serves move probably helps our serves. Iowa on an ice rink is NOT the answer, as fans are far from the court and surface tends to become slippery. tOSU did it right. We will have a challenge competing with the top programs from Huff. Purely a guess, but I believe we could average an additional 1000-1500 fans with a more fan friendly arena, probably and unfortunately not enough to justify a $20M new building. Those who now have season tickets have a good spectating experience and crowd noise is a plus in big matches. Everyone also not so much. These factors are what I was referring to by my generalization of “horrible.” I wish I had the money to build them a proper volleyball specific venue. I imagine the the outdated facilities for the players must influence some of the recruits negatively. |
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Post by ted_heise on Mar 19, 2022 8:29:39 GMT -5
Horrible? No. Terrible seats for anyone who is not sitting in the lower level between the baselines. Inadequate locker and training facilities for players. Hot weather is an issue with no AC, bad for fans and bad for August pre-season, although giant fans creating drafts that make hard floater serves move probably helps our serves. Iowa on an ice rink is NOT the answer, as fans are far from the court and surface tends to become slippery. tOSU did it right. We will have a challenge competing with the top programs from Huff. Purely a guess, but I believe we could average an additional 1000-1500 fans with a more fan friendly arena, probably and unfortunately not enough to justify a $20M new building. Those who now have season tickets have a good spectating experience and crowd noise is a plus in big matches. Everyone also not so much. I’ve been to several matches at Huff, and just love the environment and atmosphere, but in every other respect oldmanvb is spot on. BTW, I think Wilkinson has those same giant fans. |
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Post by Friday on Mar 19, 2022 16:43:37 GMT -5
I’m thinking from a recruiting/player perspective. Not the fans. Huff is a great atmosphere for fans and I’m sure the players love the energy on game day. However we don’t have a volleyball only practice facility. The locker rooms are subpar. I’m not sure where the volleyball team does their weight training. What about the freshman dorms? We have beautiful new dorms but is that where the freshman players go?
If I had the money I’d love to help fund a practice facility or new gameday venue. With the popularity of the sport nationwide not to mention I’m guessing it has the highest attendance of the womens sports at Illinois as well as the most season tickets holders would love to see some improvements to the facilities.
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Post by oldmanvb on Mar 19, 2022 19:03:36 GMT -5
Fwiw, last year volleyball averaged 2320 over 12 home matches. Womens basketball 1237 over 15 matches. As recently as 2019 volleyball averaged 3,000 per home match. I suspect the lower attendance for volleyball compared to 2019 was at least in part due to Covid. By comparison when we played at Wisconsin attendance was over 7500. At Nebraska over 8000. In 2019 Minnesota averaged over 5000. That’s a lot to compete against when recruiting the very top talent. Coupled with inferior training facilities Tamas has an uphill climb. He is as good as anyone once he gets them on campus.
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Post by oldmanvb on Mar 19, 2022 22:31:34 GMT -5
Athletics department has spent a lot of money since Whitman became AD to upgrade facilities for a wide variety of sports. To his credit. All are named for someone who donated seed money. Is there someone on this thread able to step up? As little as $5M should be enough to get it started. Maybe a GoFund Me page?
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Post by mosser on Mar 24, 2022 17:56:27 GMT -5
Well Kuper is gone so looks like Barnes is the new libero.
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Post by alt on Mar 24, 2022 18:54:32 GMT -5
Well Kuper is gone so looks like Barnes is the new libero. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of Kuper I do think the Illini will drop next year without her and Cooney. Is it too late to get a libero recruit? Im not sure if Barnes is the answer either. |
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Post by alt on Mar 24, 2022 19:06:55 GMT -5
Anyone know if Kuper is going to use her fifth year elsewhere?
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Post by timmyt on Mar 24, 2022 20:05:47 GMT -5
Well Kuper is gone so looks like Barnes is the new libero. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of Kuper I do think the Illini will drop next year without her and Cooney. Is it too late to get a libero recruit? Im not sure if Barnes is the answer either. She will be missed. The back row will struggle terribly now. Will miss her serving too. |
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Post by ilalum92 on Mar 24, 2022 20:35:05 GMT -5
Well Kuper is gone so looks like Barnes is the new libero. Is there confirmation somewhere? |
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Post by Friday on Mar 24, 2022 20:37:11 GMT -5
She posted on her Instagram. Sounds like she is going to beach.
Holzman doesn't have anything about Illini in her Instagram bio either FWIW. I've said before, but I don't think she is coming back.
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Post by ilalum92 on Mar 24, 2022 20:44:54 GMT -5
She posted on her Instagram. Sounds like she is going to beach. Holzman doesn't have anything about Illini in her Instagram bio either FWIW. I've said before, but I don't think she is coming back. I saw the Insta post. Sorry to see her go. I would be sad to see Ellie not play. Such promise as a player. ILLINOIS has a bit of a history with players getting bit by the injury bug. |
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