No. 19 Illinois volleyball continues preseason play with Pac-12 clash against No. 14 Washington, Colorado – The Daily Illini

This weekend marks the 2022 installment of the Pac-12/Large Ten Problem, as No. 19 Illinois volleyball travels to Boulder, Col. to face Colorado on Saturday after which No. 14 Washington on Sunday.

Final day out, Illinois dropped its season opener to now No. 5 Georgia Tech, earlier than rebounding on Sunday with a win over Ole Miss, bringing its general document to 1-1 on the season.

After a shaky begin on Saturday, the staff’s confidence didn’t falter. In truth, some members of the staff suppose Saturday’s outcome might have been completely different with extra video games below their belt.

“Georgia Tech did an incredible job, nothing towards them they’re an incredible staff, however I believe that it would’ve simply been first sport jitters,” redshirt senior setter Diana Brown mentioned. “Issues weren’t going precisely how they had been entering into apply, so you then get somewhat bit nervous right here and there.”

Waiting for this weekend, Illinois is about to play two event groups for the second weekend in a row, and will probably be the sixth season working the place the three groups will meet in preseason.

“I might write the scouting report proper now,” Brown mentioned. “I’m able to compete with them. We’ve somewhat bit extra studying to do, however I do know these groups, their coaches and their schemes effectively.”

Towards Colorado, Illinois is 5-6 all time with the Buffalo profitable the final two conferences. The Illini have by no means overwhelmed the Buffalo in Boulder earlier than, and the Colorado altitude is more likely to play an enormous issue within the match. 

With serves taking part in in a different way in altitude, senior outdoors hitter Jessica Nunge’s team-high 4 aces from the final match are unlikely to reoccur, because of the Buffalo’s apply in greater altitude. Pressuring Georgia Tech’s serves is an space the place Illinois struggled, because the Yellowjackets totaled 5 aces on Saturday, so the Illini might want to neutralize the Buffalo serve in the event that they need to win this week.

“It’s powerful to play in Colorado,” Illinois head coach Chris Tamas mentioned. “We’ll play at some altitude, which impacts how the serve strikes somewhat bit, in order that will likely be an added problem, however it’s one we’re up for.”

Washington cut up its opening preseason matches towards Arkansas final weekend, dropping the primary and profitable the second. After coming into the preseason ranked No. 11, the Huskies have now dropped to No. 14.

Coming off a season with simply 5 complete losses and a Candy 16 look towards No. 1 Texas, Washington is a lethal program to return up towards early within the season. The Huskies, much like the Illini’s Sunday match, had three gamers tally 10+ kills. Junior outdoors hitter Raina Terry, sophomore reverse Kayla Burbage and Nunge might want to sustain with Washington’s high hitters if the Illini need to full the upset on Sunday.

With numerous volleyball nonetheless to play this season, the Illini don’t need to peak now. Whereas a win could be good, the precedence proper now’s getting invaluable sport expertise towards high groups earlier than convention play and the NCAA event.

“We all the time speak about how in preseason it’s not going to be our prettiest volleyball, and proper now we don’t need to peak,” Brown mentioned. “We don’t need this to be our peak volleyball, and I don’t suppose it was. It wasn’t our biggest and it wasn’t our worst.”

Illinois begins up the weekend’s motion at 3:30 p.m. Saturday towards Colorado, earlier than Sunday’s conflict towards No. 14 Washington at midday.

@DrewFriberg9

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