Matches 28+29 // Illinois Hosts the Hoosiers on Wednesday, Welcomes the Wildcats on Friday
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Match 28: #15 Indiana
Wednesday, Nov.26 | 8 p.m. CT | Champaign, Ill. | Huff Hall | Big Ten Network | Radio | Live Stats
Match 29: Northwestern
Friday, Nov.28 | 7 p.m.CT | champaign,Ill. | Huff Hall | B1G+ | Radio | Live Stats
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Indiana | Northwestern
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Illinois | Indiana | Northwestern
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Illinois Volleyball Prepares for Final Road Trip of Regular Season
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois volleyball team hits the road for the final time during the regular season this week, traveling to face #15 Indiana on Wednesday and Northwestern on Friday.
Wednesday night’s contest against the ranked Hoosiers is set for 8 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network, while Friday’s Senior Night showdown against the Wildcats will take place at 7 p.m. CT on B1G+.
###OPPONENT SCOUT
#15 Indiana has put together one of its best seasons in program history,entering Wednesday’s matchup with 22 overall wins and 13 victories in Big Ten play,the latter of which marks an all-time best for the hoosier program.
Boasting a 22-6 overall record and a 13-5 mark against conference opponents, IU features a balanced attack with three players averaging over three kills per set: Candela Alonso-Corcelles (3.57), Jaidyn Jager (3.44),and Avry Tatum (3.19).Freshman setter teodora Krickovic has guided the Hoosiers to a.288 hitting percentage while posting 10.73 assists/set.
Indiana is 8-3 away from home this season, which includes ranked road wins over #17 USC, #24 UCLA, #19 Penn State, and current #13 Miami.
The Hoosiers are lead by Steve Aird, who is in his eighth season at the helm of the program.
Northwestern enters the final week of the regular season with a 16-14 record overall and a 6-12 mark in Big Ten action. The Illini swept the Wildcats away from home on Oct. 19 in the first meeting between the sides.
The Wildcats returned nine players from its 2024 roster that posted a 5-23 overall record while bringing in nine newcomers. Senior Rylen Reid leads the Wildcat offense with 3.32 kills/set, though she did not play in October’s matchup in Evanston.
NU is 5-8 in true road matches in 2025, though the Wildcats have lost seven of their last eight contests away from home after starting 4-1.
Tim Nollan is in his second season at the helm of Northwestern, holding a 21-37 record since joining the Wildcat program. Nollan made the move to the big Ten after spending eight seasons at Grand Canyon (2016-23).
###SERIES HISTORY
The Fighting Illini are 76-20 against Indiana in the all-time series, which dates back to 1975. The programs each defended their home court in last season’s matches, with the Hoosiers winning the most recent meeting in the 2024 regular-season finale.Illinois has won the last 16 matchups between the Illini and the Hoosiers at Huff Hall.
The Fighting Illini are 68-32 against Northwestern ahead of the 101st meeting in the all-time series. Illinois defeated the Wildcats in straight sets on the road on Oct. 19 in the most recent contest between the in-state conference foes.
###TOP-10 ROAD WIN
Illinois secured its first ranked victory of the year with a four-set road triumph at #10 Purdue on Sept. 28 in the team’s first Big Ten road match of the season.
In front of a hostile crowd at Mackey Arena, the Orange and Blue’s victory marked their first triumph over a top-10 opponent since 2021, while the Illini improved to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2022.
Ashlyn Philpot collected 12 kills, including the final point of the afternoon to seal the victory. hitting at a .429 clip, she also notched four blocks and accounted for the Illini’s final three kills of the day.
Alyssa Aguayo and Auburn tomkinson also ended the afternoon with double-digit kills. Aguayo amassed 11 kills, five digs, four assists, and a block, while Tomkinson tallied 11 kills and added a career-high five blocks and a dig.
taylor de Boer
Illinois Volleyball: New Faces and Notable Achievements
The Illinois volleyball team showcases a blend of experienced players and exciting newcomers, contributing to a dynamic season. Several athletes are making critically important impacts, both individually and as a team.
FRESHMAN PHENOMS
Freshman Rainah Janik has quickly established herself as a key player, starting all 27 matches and recording 10 double-doubles. She is the first Illini true freshman with 10+ kills in her first six collegiate matches since 2016, when Jacqueline Quade achieved the same feat.
Fellow freshman Taryn Kirsch consistently plays as the libero, becoming the team’s first freshman starter at the position since 2023. Kirsch leads the Illini in digs, averaging 3.18 digs/set, and set a career-high with 24 digs during the Illini’s road match at UCLA on November 20.
Auburn Tomkinson, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Texas, has immediately impacted the Illinois program. The California native has recorded 10+ kills in nine matches, including a career-high 18 kills in her return to her home state at UCLA on November 20.
Kenna Phelan stepped into the illini’s starting setter role after playing her first two seasons at Florida State. She has logged nine double-doubles and averages a career-best 9.73 assists/set. Phelan achieved a 40-assist,20-dig double-double at Ohio State,the first Illini to do so as 2017.
FINE NINE
The Illinois volleyball team welcomed nine newcomers for the 2025 season: Auburn Tomkinson, Taryn Kirsch, Devin Dzienny, Gabriella Pitcel, Kenna phelan, Sophi Randall, Alyssa Aguayo, Ava Wysocki, and Lara Žigic. Tomkinson and Phelan bring previous collegiate experience from Texas and Florida State, respectively. Dzienny initially enrolled at Florida before transferring to Champaign.
OH, CANADA
Redshirt sophomore Taylor de Boer proudly represented Canada at both the U23 NORCECA Pan American Cup and the Senior Pan American Cup in Mexico this summer.
De Boer and Canada earned a silver medal at the U23 NORCECA Pan American Cup. The U23 Canadian team reached the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup final for the first time, falling to the United States. This second-place finish marked Canada’s best result in the competition and secured their first-ever medal.
LAND OF LINCOLN
The Illini squad includes four players from Illinois: Bianca May (Orland Park),Averie Hernandez (Bloomington),Vivian Campbell (Oswego),and Ava Wysocki (Kildeer).
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
The fighting Illini continue to build a promising future with their talented roster and dedicated coaching staff.
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