Illini Stay on the Highway to Face Ohio State, Northwestern

Matches 16+17 // Illinois to Play Ohio State, Northwestern Away From Home
Match 16: Ohio State	Friday, Oct. 17 | 5 p.m. CT | Columbus, Ohio | Covelli Center | B1G+ | Radio | Live Stats
Match 17: Northwestern	Sunday, Oct. 19 | 2 p.m. CT | Evanston, Ill. | Welsh-Ryan Arena | B1G+ | Radio | Live Stats
Buy Tickets	Ohio State | Northwestern
Rosters	Illinois | Ohio State | Northwestern
Printable Notes	Illinois
Series History	Ohio State: ILL leads, 47-46; Last Match: ILL received, 3-0, on 11/9/2024; Streak: W2 Northwestern: ILL leads, 67-32; Last Match: ILL received, 3-1, on 11/1/2024; Streak: W2

MATCHES 16+17

Currently on a three-match profitable streak, Illinois closes its street journey with contests at Ohio State and Northwestern. The Fighting Illini will battle the Buckeyes on Friday at 5 p.m. CT earlier than taking part in the Wildcats in an in-state battle on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT.

Both matches will stream on B1G+.

LAST TIME OUT

Illinois closed its time on the East Coast with a street sweep over Rutgers at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Oct. 11. The Fighting Illini are actually 5-1 in convention play, their greatest begin since 2011.

Taylor de Boer led the Illini with 16 kills, her sixth straight outing with double-digit kills. Swinging at a .379 clip, she additionally added two blocks.

Alyssa Aguayo additionally completed in double figures with 11 kills, three digs, a block, and an help alongside a .333 hitting proportion.

Ashlyn Philpot amassed six kills, three blocks, and two digs. Kayla Burbage totaled 4 kills, 5 blocks, and a dig.

Kenna Phelan tallied 32 assists, 9 digs, three kills, and a block, whereas Averie Hernandez tied her career-high with 4 aces. 

OPPONENT SCOUT

Ohio State comes into Friday’s contest with a 3-11 report, with the Buckeyes starting their Big Ten slate with matches in opposition to UCLA, USC, Washington, Oregon, Purdue, and Minnesota. OSU is 1-5 at residence this season.

The Buckeyes introduced again twelve gamers from a season in the past whereas additionally reloading by way of the switch portal and its 2025 recruiting class. Hannah Jones returns after having yr in 2024, when she ended with 223 kills. So far this season, she has already accrued 198 kills at a team-best 3.74 kills/set common.

OSU’s three wins this yr got here in opposition to Miami (Ohio) (5 units), Ohio (3 units), and Troy (5 units).

Ohio State is led by Jen Flynn Oldenburg, who’s a former standout OSU volleyball participant. Oldenburg was employed to take over the Buckeyes in 2020. Flynn Oldenburg spent 10 seasons (2003-12) at Illinois as an assistant coach.

Northwestern heads into the weekend with a 12-6 report, together with a 2-4 mark in convention play. The Wildcats break up its matches final week, sweeping Rutgers away from residence earlier than falling in 4 units at #19 Penn State.

The Wildcats returned 9 gamers from its 2024 roster that posted a 5-23 general report whereas bringing in 9 newcomers. Senior Rylen Reid leads the Wildcat offense with 3.25 kills/set, whereas her 211 kills rank tenth within the Big Ten. Reid additionally leads the group in aces, with Northwestern coming into the week sitting third within the convention in aces/set (1.74).

Tim Nollan is in his second season on the helm of Northwestern, holding a 17-29 report since becoming a member of the Wildcat program. Nollan made the transfer to the Big Ten after spending eight seasons at Grand Canyon (2016-23).

SERIES HISTORY

Heading into the 94th all-time assembly between the packages, Illinois holds a slender 47-46 edge in opposition to the Buckeyes because the collection started again in 1974. Ohio State has received 5 of the final seven matchups, however Illinois has taken the final two. The Buckeyes are searching for their first win in opposition to the Illini since Oct. 13, 2023, which was additionally in Columbus the place they are going to be taking part in this Friday.

The Fighting Illini are 67-32 in opposition to Northwestern forward of the one centesimal assembly within the all-time collection. Illinois received each matchups final season by way of 3-1 scorelines, whereas the Orange and Blue are 27-16 when taking part in the Wildcats in true street matches.

TOP-10 ROAD WIN

Illinois secured its first ranked victory of the season with a four-set street triumph at #10 Purdue on Sept. 28 within the group’s first convention street match of the season.

In entrance of a hostile crowd at Mackey Arena, the Orange and Blue’s victory marked their first conquer a top-10 opponent since 2021, whereas the Illini improved to 2-0 in convention play for the primary time since 2022.

Ashlyn Philpot collected 12 kills, together with the ultimate level of the afternoon to seal the victory. Hitting at a .429 clip, she additionally notched 4 blocks and accounted for the Illini’s remaining three kills of the day. 

Alyssa Aguayo and Auburn Tomkinson additionally ended the afternoon with double-digit kills. Aguayo amassed 11 kills, 5 digs, 4 assists, and a block, whereas Tomkinson tallied 11 kills and added a career-high 5 blocks and a dig.

Taylor de Boer led the Illini in kills as soon as once more, ending with 17. She additionally logged a block and a dig.

Defensively, Taryn Kirsch totaled a career-high 21 digs alongside her 5 assists, whereas Kenna Phelan posted her fourth double-double of the season with 39 assists and 10 digs.

DE BOER EARNS 2025 ATHLETESCAN TRUE SPORT AWARD

Illinois redshirt sophomore Taylor de Boer was acknowledged on the 2025 Canadian Sport Awards as this yr’s recipient of the AthletesCAN True Sport Award.

The True Sport Award acknowledges an inspirational Canadian citizen who exemplifies true sport values of equity, excellence, inclusion, and enjoyable in a significant manner. Through the pursuit of sporting excellence this Canadian hero showcases dedication, perseverance, sportsmanship, respect for others, and a real love of sport.

A local of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, de Boer was honored for her perseverance and resilience all through her battle with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) vasculitis, a uncommon autoimmune illness that assaults the kidneys, joints, lungs, and different small vessels. Diagnosed previous to her first season with the Fighting Illini in 2023, de Boer had simply returned from being a group captain for Canada’s U19 group on the Pan American Cup.

Only 17 years previous on the time of her analysis in the summertime of 2023, she spent the following month in vital care on the OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria. She used her time within the hospital to get entangled with Uplifting Athletes, which raises consciousness and funds for uncommon illnesses. Continuing her work as she continued her therapy and restoration, she was tabbed a Rare Disease Champion by the group.

Other finalists for this yr’s award included Eric Furtado-Rodrigues (Wheelchair Rugby) and Ruby Stevens (Para Swimming and Wheelchair Rugby).

PHELAN GOOD

Kenna Phelan was named the Big Ten Setter of the Week on Sept. 29 after main the Fighting Illini to a 2-0 week with wins in opposition to [RV] Oregon and at #10 Purdue.

Phelan averaged 9.4 assists/set and a couple of.4 digs/set over the course of the two-match weekend, totaling 66 assists, 17 digs, two kills, two aces, and a block. She tallied 27 assists whereas making seven digs and tacking on an ace and a block within the Illini’s in opposition to the Ducks. Two days later, in her first profession Big Ten street match, Phelan recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 39 assists and 10 digs in opposition to the #10-ranked Boilermakers. She additionally added two kills and an ace because the Orange and Blue earned their first top-10 victory since 2021.

She grew to become the primary Illini to safe Big Ten Setter of the Week honors since Diana Brown through the 2021 season.

IMMEDIATE IMPACTS

Freshman Alyssa Aguayo averaged 2.82 kills, 3.30 factors, 2.09 digs, and 0.39 blocks per set throughout her 56 units of motion whereas beginning all 15 matches. Also totaling six double-doubles so far, she grew to become the primary Illini true freshman with 10+ kills of their first six collegiate matches since 2016, when Jacqueline Quade additionally had 10+ kills in her first six matches.

Fellow freshman Taryn Kirsch has donned the libero jersey throughout the Illini’s first 15 matches, marking the group’s first freshman starter on the place since 2023. Kirsch leads the Illini in digs, averaging 3.16 digs/set, and set a career-high with 21 digs within the Illini’s four-set win at #10 Purdue.

Auburn Tomkinson, a redshirt sophomore, has made an instantaneous impression at Illinois after transferring from Texas, the place she spent her first two seasons however didn’t play. The California native has 10+ kills in six matches, together with a career-high 17 kills at Maryland on Oct. 10.

Kenna Phelan stepped into the Illini’s beginning setter spot after taking part in her first two seasons at Florida State. She has logged 4 double-doubles, is averaging 9.75 assists/set, and has a minimum of one block in 12 of Illinois’ 15 matches regardless of standing at 5-foot-7.

FINE NINE

The Illinois volleyball group added 9 newcomers for the 2025 season. Auburn Tomkinson, Taryn Kirsch, Devin Dzienny, Gabriella Pitcel, Kenna Phelan, Sophi Randall, Alyssa Aguayo, Ava Wysocki, and Lara Žigic all joined the roster through the offseason. Tomkinson and Phelan have earlier collegiate expertise, having performed the final two seasons at Texas and Florida State, respectively. Dzienny was an early enrollee at Florida earlier than making her strategy to Champaign.

OH, CANADA

Redshirt sophomore Taylor de Boer represented her residence nation of Canada at each the U23 NORCECA Pan American Cup and the Senior Pan American Cup in Mexico over the summer time.

De Boer and Canada claimed the silver medal on the U23 NORCECA Pan American Cup. The U23 Canadian group, making its first-ever look within the Women’s U23 Pan American Cup remaining, fell to the United States within the remaining. The group’s second-place end was Canada’s greatest ever within the competitors, and it additionally served because the squad’s first-ever medal.

LAND OF LINCOLN

The Illini squad options 4 gamers from the state of Illinois. Bianca May (Orland Park), Averie Hernandez (Bloomington), Vivian Campbell (Oswego), and Ava Wysocki (Kildeer) all hail from the Land of Lincoln.

NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES

The Fighting Illini noticed modifications to go coach Chris Tamas‘ employees in 2025. Meredith Schamun and Hannah Hashbarger joined the group because the affiliate head coach and director of operations, respectively.

Schamun joins the Illini following a four-year head teaching stint at Penn, most not too long ago guiding the Quakers to a profitable 13-10 marketing campaign with an 7-7 Ivy League report in 2024. The season included the Quakers’ first win over rival Princeton since 2015 and their first victory over Brown since 2019. Following the season, a pair of Schamun’s gamers acquired All-Ivy recognition.

Schamun got here to Penn from Villanova, the place she helped the Wildcats to a 39-23 report in two seasons because the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Schamun assisted Villanova to a pair of Big East Tournament appearances and a mixed 23-13 report in league play. In 2019, the Wildcats have been 22-9 general and 13-5 within the Big East. That yr, she guided the Wildcat offense to complete second within the league in hitting proportion and skilled Villanova’s all-time help chief.

Prior to arriving at Villanova, Schamun spent two seasons at Tulane as an assistant coach, serving to the Green Wave to the very best RPI bounce within the nation (157 spots) in 2016. Tulane had its first profitable season in three years and completed fifth within the American Athletic Conference with Schamun on the sideline. From 2014-15, Schamun was the director of volleyball operations at UCF, serving to manage journey, scheduling, and recruiting for the Knights, who received the convention title and reached the NCAA Championship discipline in 2014.

A extremely adorned setter at Rice University, Schamun was a four-year starter for the Owls. The Conference USA Setter of the Year in 2009, Schamun was a Conference USA Championship MVP, two-time All-C-USA First Team, AVCA All-Region, and AVCA All-America honorable point out choice. She helped lead the Owls to a convention championship and two NCAA Championship berths, and completed her profession as Rice’s all-time chief in assists with 5,190.­

Hashbarger involves Illinois following two seasons on the Regis volleyball employees, serving because the director of operations and engagement. As this system’s director of operations and engagement, Hashbarger mixed her experience in model advertising and marketing, management, and program administration to assist the group’s success.

LOOKING BACK AT 2024

The Fighting Illini noticed a lot success through the 2024 season, proudly owning an 18-13 general report and a 10-10 mark in Big Ten play. The group made its return to the NCAA Tournament, falling to Northern Iowa, 3-1, within the opening spherical.

A key loss from final yr’s squad is Raina Terry, who earned AVCA All-American standing on the conclusion of the season. The program’s all-time chief in kills, factors, and aces, Terry earned AVCA Third Team distinction, the primary of its type for the Ohio native. Terry was drafted eleventh general to the Columbus Fury, turning into the primary Illini participant to be chosen within the Pro Volleyball Federation draft.

Not to be outshined, Ashlyn Philpot returns to the Illini following a stellar freshman marketing campaign in 2024. The center blocker was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team on the conclusion of the common season. Philpot tallied 10+ kills in 4 Big Ten matches in her debut season, together with 17 kills in a five-set conquer #20 USC. The following evening, she recorded 11 kills whereas hitting .667 in opposition to Ohio State. Such marks accompanied with 9 roofs on the weekend helped Philpot earn her first-ever Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor.

AS SEEN ON TV

The Illini might be featured on nationwide tv 9 occasions this season. The group’s street matches at Purdue, Wisconsin, and Minnesota will air on Big Ten Network. The Illini’s residence clashes in opposition to Iowa State and Penn State can even be proven on BTN. Contests at Nebraska and UCLA might be proven on FS1. The inaugural Broadway Block Party match in opposition to Vanderbilt aired on SEC Network, whereas Illinois battled #3 Louisville on the street on ESPN.

HEAD COACH CHRIS TAMAS AT THE HELM

The eighth head coach in Illinois historical past, Tamas has made a formidable impression on Illinois volleyball and owns an general report of 159-99 (.616), together with a 94-69 (.577) mark within the nation’s hardest volleyball league, the Big Ten Conference, in addition to 5 NCAA Tournament appearances, together with three NCAA Regional appearances and a visit to the Final Four in 2018. 

Tamas earned his one centesimal profession win – with all 100 coming on the helm of the Illini program – after main Illinois to its third journey to the Sweet 16 in 5 seasons after back-to-back wins to open the 2021 NCAA event, together with a four-set win over 2020-21 nationwide champion and #7 seed Kentucky in Lexington. His a hundred and fiftieth profession victory got here in opposition to Vanderbilt on the Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party on Aug. 31.

Illinois skilled one among its most profitable seasons ever in 2018 beneath Tamas, who was subsequently named AVCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year. 

The Illini made this system’s fourth-ever look within the NCAA National Semifinals because the #3 general seed within the event, using a 17-match win streak into the Final Four and ending the season ranked #3 within the AVCA Coaches Poll. The group registered a 32-4 general report and completed in second place within the Big Ten Conference with a 17-3 mark, with the 32 victories rating tied for fourth-most in class historical past.

Under Tamas’ management, the Illini collected various particular person honors, highlighted by AVCA All-America First Team alternatives in Jordyn Poulter and Jacqueline Quade, the primary time in program historical past Illinois had a number of first-team honorees in a season.