Illinois volleyball team and first-year head coach Chris Tamas released its 2017 schedule, featuring 31 matches, including 12 contests at Huff Hall. The 2017 slate is highlighted by 11 opponents that participated in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, with three of the four teams that advanced to the Final Four on the schedule, including defending National Champion Stanford.
For the first time since the 2013 season, the Illini will be opening the season on the road as they start the 2017 campaign with back-to-back road tournaments. The Illini first travels to Bozeman, Mont., for the Montana State Bobcat Classic, hosted by Montana State on August 25-26, with the Illini facing the host Bobcats, as well as Gonzaga and Air Force. They continue the trip to Louisville, Ky., for a tournament hosted by the University of Louisville on September 1-2 and will take on the host Cardinals, Kent State and Western Kentucky.
The Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge heads to Huff Hall for the first time in its history as the Illini host defending National Champion Stanford, led by former Illini head coach Kevin Hambly, in their home opener on September 8 and Colorado on September 9.
The Illini then round out their nonconference slate with a tournament at Missouri State and will face the host Bears, Chattanooga and Tennessee State in Springfield, Mo., on September 15-16.
Illinois opens Big Ten Conference action on the road for the third-straight season, taking on Indiana on September 20, before making its way back to Huff Hall for the conference home opener on October 6against Purdue.
The Illini’s 20-game conference schedule features home-and-away series with Minnesota, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa, Northwestern and Indiana, as well as home matches against Wisconsin, Purdue and Maryland. UI will also make trips to 2016 Big Ten Champion Nebraska, Rutgers and Michigan State.
The NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship is set to start on Nov. 30-Dec. 2, with the top 16 seeds hosting First and Second Round action. The NCAA Regionals will be held on Dec. 8-9at campus sites. The 2017 National Championship will be held at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, with the semifinals on Dec. 14 and the NCAA title match on Dec. 16.
Season tickets are now on sale to the general public. Season ticket packages include a ticket to all 12 home matches and start as low as $40. Fans can also purchase the Volleyball/Women’s Basketball Season Ticket Combo Package for just $55. This package includes a general admission ticket to all Volleyball and Women’s Basketball home games.
The 2017 Volleyball Season Ticket Holder renewal period is currently underway. The renewal deadline for current season ticket holders is Friday, June 16. Single match tickets will go on sale on August 10. For more information and to purchase season tickets click HERE.
Schedule Notes
- 31 total matches (12 home, 13 road, 6 neutral)
- Season and home opener: Sept. 8 vs. Stanford
- B1G opener: Sept. 20 at Indiana
- B1G home opener: Oct. 6 vs. Purdue
- Ranked in the final AVCA poll: 12 matches vs. 8 teams; 1 match vs. RV
- RPI Top 50: 15 matches vs. 11 teams
- 2016 Conference Champions/Tournament Champions: 3
- NCAA Tournament:
- Qualifiers: 11 (Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State, Purdue, Western Kentucky, Stanford, Missouri State)
- NCAA Second Round: 9
- Sweet 16: 5
- Elite Eight: 4
- Final Four: 3 (Stanford, Nebraska, Minnesota)
- National Champion: Stanford (Home: Sept. 8)
- First-time opponents: Air Force, Kent State, Western Kentucky, Chattanooga, Tennessee State
| 2017 Illinois Volleyball Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Montana State Bobcat Classic (Bozeman, Mont.) | |
| Aug. 25 | vs. Gonzaga |
| at Montana State | |
| Aug. 26 | Air Force |
| Louisville Tournament (Louisville, Ky.) | |
| Sept. 1 | vs. Kent State |
| Sept. 2 | vs. Western Kentucky |
| at Louisville | |
| Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge | |
| Sept. 8 | Stanford |
| Sept. 9 | Colorado |
| Missouri State Tournament (Springfield, Mo.) | |
| Sept. 15 | vs. Chattanooga |
| Sept. 16 | vs. Tennessee State |
| at Missouri State | |
| Big Ten Schedule | |
| Sept. 20 | at Indiana |
| Sept. 23 | at Northwestern |
| Sept. 29 | at Penn State |
| Sept. 30 | at Rutgers |
| Oct. 6 | Purdue |
| Oct. 7 | Indiana |
| Oct. 13 | Ohio State |
| Oct. 14 | Maryland |
| Oct. 20 | at Iowa |
| Oct. 21 | at Nebraska |
| Oct. 25 | at Minnesota |
| Oct. 28 | Penn State |
| Nov. 1 | Northwestern |
| Nov. 4 | Michigan |
| Nov. 10 | at Michigan State |
| Nov. 11 | at Michigan |
| Nov. 17 | Wisconsin |
| Nov. 18 | Minnesota |
| Nov. 22 | Iowa |
| Nov. 25 | at Ohio State |
| NCAA Tournament | |
| Nov. 30-Dec. 2 | Opening Rounds (at top 16 seeds) |
| Dec. 8-9 | NCAA Regionals (Campus Sites) |
| Dec. 14 & 16 | Final Four (Sprint Center | Kansas, City, Mo.) |
Please Note: Dates and opponents are subject to change. TV network selections will be announced at a later date and are likely to impact dates and times for selected matches. Always check FIGHTINGILLINI.comfor the most up-to-date information.
For more Fighting Illini volleyball news, stay tuned to FIGHTINGILLINI.com and follow the team on Twitter @IlliniVBall or like Fighting Illini Volleyball on Facebook.
Volleyball news courtesy of Illinois Athletics.
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