|
|
Post by exit237a on Oct 16, 2024 20:22:02 GMT -5
Great game, Illini! Lotsa props to go around. Haven’t looked at the stats yet but imagine they’re impressive. Averie and Raina were on fire- great setting from Brooke and OOS sets from the littles. The scout was really good too and those shallow tips were falling left and right. Good passing Indiana’s aggressive servers.
Fun times in Huff w good energy from the Spike Squad, the band, and the rest of us. But I was crushed when the pep band played Sweet Caroline twice, no doubt a tribute to Barnes. Starting last season, the band sang the first part of the first line of the chorus before her serves.
So a bittersweet victory but we’ll take the sweep. Nice work, Illini!
|
|
|
|
Post by popchampaign on Oct 16, 2024 21:12:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Chewblocka on Oct 17, 2024 0:29:39 GMT -5
Good game tonight - lots of energy in Huff. We played far better than I expected but it seemed we were just more prepared and our scouting was bang on. Still so disappointed about Caroline, I understand that it was a tough decision for her but long term health has to trump. We continue to play the same old same but tonight at least they all performed well so can’t fault this strategy. Raina was fired up and chippy which was both frightening and funny at the same time. Smith did not get many swings as compared to Raina and Avery but they were both doing well so I would have set the same. Smith got a few points when needed and as a freshie that is her job. This is a good win and if all goes well we will have a double win week with Maryland.
|
|
|
|
Post by illinifan24 on Oct 17, 2024 8:37:44 GMT -5
Embarrassing behavior by that referee. Let these women show some fire out there. Hope he’s never allowed to ref an Illinois game again. |
|
|
|
Post by oldmanvb on Oct 17, 2024 8:49:33 GMT -5
We should (emphasis should) beat Maryland, Northwestern, Iowa and Rutgers. That takes us to 8 wins. More likely than not but still tough wins at Huff against Ohio State and UCLA gets us to 10. In order to be safely in the tournament we need at least 2 wins against Nebraska, Wisconsin, USC, PSU, Purdue, Minnesota and at Indiana. My guess is USC at Huff and at Indiana are the best bets out of the last group. If we play like we played last night I am cautiously optimistic.
|
|
|
|
Post by vbkahuna on Oct 17, 2024 10:03:04 GMT -5
That wasn't just a good win. It was a great win against a very tough Indiana team. I happened to watch every minute of their match last Sunday against #3 Penn State, and they went toe-to-toe with them every minute of that match. Penn State eventually won, 3-1, (22-25, 25-22, 32-30, 25-22), but Indiana outblocked them 13-10 as an indication of how hard-fought and close that match was.
Last night the Illini were steady in all areas of the game, outblocking the Hoosiers 10-7, controlling their middle attacks by their MBs and their great setter, and doing a nice job in serve receive against arguably one of the best serving teams in the Big Ten if not all of D1. In particular, Mundo was utterly amazing digging bombs all over the court (thus, "Toto Mundo"), and Barry looked like a little rat terrier getting to every attempted tip by Indiana. Barry appears to be really finding her rhythm playing next to Mundo and feeding off her aggressive defense. If the two of them can continue to play like this, the Illini can be a threat to several of the top tier teams.
I would also note that the Illini freshmen and other hitters continue to play a huge role in taking the heat off Raina and letting her pace her energy for both hitting and blocking, particularly in the late stages of a match. Smith hit .545, Philpot hit .500, and Bohm (Sophomore) hit .429. And Hernandez contributed 12 kills, hitting .286. In my opinion, Hernandez contributes more than just her versatile hitting. I believe her quickness and athleticism helps give the team a different dynamic with better court coverage and ability to keep the ball in play on long rallies, unlike the last few years.
They seem to be hitting their stride now that Mundo and Barry have had several matches to settle in to their new roles. Can they keep rolling like this? We will find out soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by oldmanvb on Oct 17, 2024 10:07:58 GMT -5
Embarrassing behavior by that referee. Let these women show some fire out there. Hope he’s never allowed to ref an Illinois game again. I liked the fact Raina was smiling and joking with teammates as she walked away from the official. If that didn’t further aggravate him, a worthwhile goal, I don’t know what would. Further aggravating would be the fact she continued to celebrate after big points. |
|
|
|
Post by therefisblind on Oct 17, 2024 13:05:16 GMT -5
Embarrassing behavior by that referee. Let these women show some fire out there. Hope he’s never allowed to ref an Illinois game again. The day we stop letting these ladies show passion will be the day it becomes not worth watching. These refs need to understand how hard these players work and how much pressure there is. So any time you get to release the valve should be understood. Just really poor from these particular ref. |
|
|
|
Post by exit237a on Oct 17, 2024 16:14:09 GMT -5
Hmm, there's still at least one roster spot open in 2026...
This is where we delve into speculation mode.
|
|
|
|
Post by brucks on Oct 17, 2024 17:39:23 GMT -5
Embarrassing behavior by that referee. Let these women show some fire out there. Hope he’s never allowed to ref an Illinois game again. I guess that I missed it. Was her celebration excessive? |
|
|
|
Post by maigrey on Oct 17, 2024 17:45:09 GMT -5
Embarrassing behavior by that referee. Let these women show some fire out there. Hope he’s never allowed to ref an Illinois game again. I guess that I missed it. Was her celebration excessive? actually, no she might have like made a face across the nap but she immediately turned around and celebrated towards her teammate. That's why it was weird. |
|
|
|
Post by exit237a on Oct 17, 2024 18:44:34 GMT -5
P.S. The post above referred to a list which is now on the previous page. (Hey, can someone tell me how to include previous posts in my own? when I hit "Quote," it just reproduces that post without giving me an option to add anything of my own -- at least not as far as I can tell. But you all do it, so I must be missing something that should be obvious.) Here's a tutorial for maigrey 's approach to quoting, using the BBCode workspace. Check it out and let me know if you have any questions.
1. Click the Quote button.
2. Click the BBCode tab.
3. Click outside the bracketed "Quote" then hit enter twice.
4. Type out your response two lines down from the quoted text; then click Preview tab.
5. Check your post in Preview mode then click Create Post. |
|
|
|
Post by maigrey on Oct 17, 2024 18:47:21 GMT -5
P.S. The post above referred to a list which is now on the previous page. (Hey, can someone tell me how to include previous posts in my own? when I hit "Quote," it just reproduces that post without giving me an option to add anything of my own -- at least not as far as I can tell. But you all do it, so I must be missing something that should be obvious.) Here's a tutorial for maigrey 's approach to quoting, using the BBCode workspace. Check it out and let me know if you have any questions. Also if you don't have any fancy-dancy formatting to do you can skip #5 and just hit post (which is why my posts have so many typos 🤣🤣🤣) |
|
|
|
Post by oldmanvb on Oct 17, 2024 21:33:03 GMT -5
Actually, I just click on the space immediately below the box in which the quote is set out. A thin line appears, which is where the typewritten words show up.
|
|
|
|
Post by ted_heise on Oct 18, 2024 2:14:11 GMT -5
Actually, I just click on the space immediately below the box in which the quote is set out. A thin line appears, which is where the typewritten words show up. pretty much what I said a few days ago. Maybe people have me blocked.  |
|
