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Post by illinivbfan1992 on Nov 5, 2024 19:32:24 GMT -5
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Post by exit237a on Nov 6, 2024 13:16:47 GMT -5
Was so devastated for Ellie. She was playing so well and with great enthusiasm- that was my observation, at least.
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Post by illinivbfan1992 on Nov 8, 2024 14:27:16 GMT -5
From today's News-Gazette re: whether we continue with the 6-2:
Game-time decision on rotationThe 6-2 rotation Illinois used in Sunday’s loss to Wisconsin was the result of several factors. It served as a way to lessen the workload on starting setter Brooke Mosher, who is not 100 percent healthy and didn’t play the front row or jump serve for a reason. It also helped the Illini match a bit better physically with the biggest team in the Big Ten by getting 6-foot-4 opposite Taylor de Boer on the court. Whether or not the Illini continue with that 6-2 rotation the rest of the season is to be determined. “It’s hard because you want more time to get used to it, but your trial runs are few and far between,” Tamas said. “It’s not spring ball where we get to throw it out and kind of see. It’s live, and it counts. We’ve got to make sure we try to get the most out of it. Liked what I saw in set two (against Wisconsin). Didn’t like as much as I saw in set three. We’ll probably end up going with game-time decisions from here moving forward.” More on that and other topics here: www.news-gazette.com/sports/illinois-faces-crucial-big-ten-weekend-at-huff-hall/article_768e7704-9c83-11ef-953d-7b732d640ee5.html |
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Post by ilalum92 on Nov 8, 2024 20:51:50 GMT -5
Huge win by the ILLINI. Let's hope we build on this momentum and beat OSU. Hoping there isn't a let down after a big win. Definitely helps us in our tourney aspirations.
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Post by exit237a on Nov 8, 2024 23:11:26 GMT -5
Look like the squad was pretty hyped : )
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Post by bucky415 on Nov 9, 2024 0:08:49 GMT -5
Come on, Illini, beat Ohio State and move to lock status for Raina!
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Post by illinivbfan1992 on Nov 9, 2024 0:24:40 GMT -5
Oh, it felt SO good in Huff tonight!
That's not only the first time we've beaten a ranked team this year: It's the first time we've won a SET against a ranked team. The second-set win in overtime was so huge for our confidence -- the team's and the fans'. We've had to fight from underneath against ranked teams all season. This was the first time we really put pressure on them. And USC felt it: They made errors the other teams didn't. They play several (very talented) freshmen, so they're up-and-down -- deadly at times (especially their setter's serve), but also vulnerable.
Speaking of serving, can't say enough about Raina's. Without her timely aces late in the second and third sets, we might have been swept instead of celebrating our best win of the year. For that matter, it was a couple fifth-set points off her serve that pulled us ahead of USC. We never trailed again and soon got a lead we'd never relinquish. Seems like most of USC's timeouts came either after her serves or her thunderous kills.
Other odds and ends:
-- From early on, one of the keys to this season would be whether the the North Carolina girls improved as the season went along. Philpot sure has. She's figured out a lot of things and grown more assertive. That's not to diss Smith, who's had other good nights lately, though not this one.
-- Plenty of good decisions from Hernandez tonight. She's a smart player.
-- Not for the first time, I noticed that Cari Bohm is a vocal leader in timeouts. When USC got on runs, she was the one who seemed most animated.
-- Despite men's basketball, Josh Whitman showed up for at least a little while. It was a bit after 6:00, I think, and I was surprised to see him not only on a MBB night, but that close to the game. He may have left later (I forgot about him), but at least he was there.
-- Finally, Ohio State also played five sets tonight, pulling off a rivalry win at Michigan. (It wasn't just the Londot show: Freshman Emmi Sellman led them in both kills and attacks.) Both teams will come in feeling good about themselves tomorrow, but likely will have to dig deep as the night goes on. Glad we're the home team. We had a pretty good crowd tonight considering the early start and the basketball competition, and could have a bigger one tomorrow coming off tonight's win. It's a good weekend for Illini women's sports, with this big win and WBB's over Florida State (which had a really loud crowd). Let's keep it going!
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Post by bucky415 on Nov 9, 2024 0:29:56 GMT -5
I was overjoyed with the Wisconsin sweep in Huff with the quick turn around. I will NEVER take a win at Huff for granted! Glad the Illini got a win over USC! I am not happy with them or UCLA for blowing up college sports, despite liking being able to watch the late BTN volleyball matches!
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Post by pittsstan on Nov 9, 2024 1:55:19 GMT -5
Oh, it felt SO good in Huff tonight! That's not only the first time we've beaten a ranked team this year: It's the first time we've won a SET against a ranked team. The second-set win in overtime was so huge for our confidence -- the team's and the fans'. We've had to fight from underneath against ranked teams all season. This was the first time we really put pressure on them. And USC felt it: They made errors the other teams didn't. They play several (very talented) freshmen, so they're up-and-down -- deadly at times (especially their setter's serve), but also vulnerable. Speaking of serving, can't say enough about Raina's. Without her timely aces late in the second and third sets, we might have been swept instead of celebrating our best win of the year. For that matter, it was a couple fifth-set points off her serve that pulled us ahead of USC. We never trailed again and soon got a lead we'd never relinquish. Seems like most of USC's timeouts came either after her serves or her thunderous kills. Other odds and ends: -- From early on, one of the keys to this season would be whether the the North Carolina girls improved as the season went along. Philpot sure has. She's figured out a lot of things and grown more assertive. That's not to diss Smith, who's had other good nights lately, though not this one. -- Plenty of good decisions from Hernandez tonight. She's a smart player. -- Not for the first time, I noticed that Cari Bohm is a vocal leader in timeouts. When USC got on runs, she was the one who seemed most animated. -- Despite men's basketball, Josh Whitman showed up for at least a little while. It was a bit after 6:00, I think, and I was surprised to see him not only on a MBB night, but that close to the game. He may have left later (I forgot about him), but at least he was there. -- Finally, Ohio State also played five sets tonight, pulling off a rivalry win at Michigan. (It wasn't just the Londot show: Freshman Emmi Sellman led them in both kills and attacks.) Both teams will come in feeling good about themselves tomorrow, but likely will have to dig deep as the night goes on. Glad we're the home team. We had a pretty good crowd tonight considering the early start and the basketball competition, and could have a bigger one tomorrow coming off tonight's win. It's a good weekend for Illini women's sports, with this big win and WBB's over Florida State (which had a really loud crowd). Let's keep it going! To be fair, the other ranked teams that Illini played (Neb, Wisc, Oregon) were head and shoulder above them so I'm not too surprised that they didn't win a set. But I do agree they have multiple chances to win at least one set during those matches. |
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Post by greatlakesvballer on Nov 9, 2024 4:44:48 GMT -5
Congrats to the Illini on the USC win! Keep the mo going.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Nov 9, 2024 7:16:53 GMT -5
Oh, it felt SO good in Huff tonight! That's not only the first time we've beaten a ranked team this year: It's the first time we've won a SET against a ranked team. The second-set win in overtime was so huge for our confidence -- the team's and the fans'. We've had to fight from underneath against ranked teams all season. This was the first time we really put pressure on them. And USC felt it: They made errors the other teams didn't. They play several (very talented) freshmen, so they're up-and-down -- deadly at times (especially their setter's serve), but also vulnerable. Speaking of serving, can't say enough about Raina's. Without her timely aces late in the second and third sets, we might have been swept instead of celebrating our best win of the year. For that matter, it was a couple fifth-set points off her serve that pulled us ahead of USC. We never trailed again and soon got a lead we'd never relinquish. Seems like most of USC's timeouts came either after her serves or her thunderous kills. Other odds and ends: -- From early on, one of the keys to this season would be whether the the North Carolina girls improved as the season went along. Philpot sure has. She's figured out a lot of things and grown more assertive. That's not to diss Smith, who's had other good nights lately, though not this one. -- Plenty of good decisions from Hernandez tonight. She's a smart player. -- Not for the first time, I noticed that Cari Bohm is a vocal leader in timeouts. When USC got on runs, she was the one who seemed most animated. -- Despite men's basketball, Josh Whitman showed up for at least a little while. It was a bit after 6:00, I think, and I was surprised to see him not only on a MBB night, but that close to the game. He may have left later (I forgot about him), but at least he was there. -- Finally, Ohio State also played five sets tonight, pulling off a rivalry win at Michigan. (It wasn't just the Londot show: Freshman Emmi Sellman led them in both kills and attacks.) Both teams will come in feeling good about themselves tomorrow, but likely will have to dig deep as the night goes on. Glad we're the home team. We had a pretty good crowd tonight considering the early start and the basketball competition, and could have a bigger one tomorrow coming off tonight's win. It's a good weekend for Illini women's sports, with this big win and WBB's over Florida State (which had a really loud crowd). Let's keep it going! |
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Post by inpaign on Nov 9, 2024 15:03:20 GMT -5
Last night was fun (after we secured the win of course LOL). Very pleased with the result. Watching live, I felt USC was very impressive and thought at times they were just going to outplay us with their natural talent and athleticism (and long players!) Our ability to stick with it and weather the storm was great to see. Raina's serves were clutch, Averie's ability to hit line shots is definitely her strength, and my goodness is Ashlyn Philpot talented. KEEP FEEDING HER. Shoutout to Cari for hitting .800...not set often but making it happen when she was. Our defense started out rough but something changed and they looked like a different team midway through that second set. Serve receive still iffy but we made it work last night.
Needed that win for our tourney hopes. Really need to win tonight in what could be a letdown game for either team - hopefully Huff puts us over the edge. I'm not really seeing a game on the remainder of our schedule where I don't think we can compete in. @ PSU will be tough, but NW competed well with them yesterday. I believe we can match up with both Purdue and Minnesota, and the others of course are winnable if we play to the level we are capable. Will be interesting to monitor our injuries and roster management. Brooke did not look 100% last night in my opinion (not jump serving confirms this). TdB was out. As someone mentioned, Burbage warmed up with the team and looked dressed with the exception of the jersey - I'm not sure what her plan is but she looked strong in hitting lines. If she is going to redshirt it wouldn't make sense to use her this late in the season but I feel as though we could really utilize her in the middle. Will be fun to see who plays tonight. Let's get another win. I-L-L!
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Post by exit237a on Nov 9, 2024 19:37:39 GMT -5
Wanted to give Bianca some props on her clutch serving last night and a couple big digs out there. She is a vocal, engaged teammate while on the sidelines so it is extra cool to see her get opportunities on the court and she delivered. Well done, Bianca!
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Post by Chewblocka on Nov 9, 2024 20:36:36 GMT -5
Wanted to give Bianca some props on her clutch serving last night and a couple big digs out there. She is a vocal, engaged teammate while on the sidelines so it is extra cool to see her get opportunities on the court and she delivered. Well done, Bianca! I agree!! |
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Post by ilalum92 on Nov 9, 2024 21:53:34 GMT -5
Huge weekend for the ILLINI! Beat #20 USC, sweep OSU and Wisco beats PSU. We should see a nice bump on RPI. 2 more wins should get us in the tourney. I think we can pull an upset over either Purdue/Minn if they have an off night and we play like we are playing now.
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