After its third-straight NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2015, the Fighting Illini volleyball team will look to continue its growth and success with a competitive 2016 spring schedule that includes four competition dates, highlighted by a home scrimmage against Wisconsin on April 23.
"We are excited for the spring," said head coach Kevin Hambly. "I really like the level of competition we are playing this spring. With a smaller crew of players it would have been tough to play in all day tournaments with multiple teams, so instead we tried to play the best teams we could schedule and keep the volume low. I think we found what we are looking for."
"With that being said, the spring is so much more about us and working through the things we need to get better at from last year and the changes in system and technique that we recognized from the fall. It has been fun working with the group through individuals but everyone is ready to get to work as a team and see if we can put some things together."
The Illini open their spring slate against Kansas State on the campus of Truman State in Kirksville, Mo., on April 2 and then head to Menomonee Falls, Wis., to face Big Ten foe Minnesota on April 9.
UI then makes a trip up to Chicago to take on Marquette at Mother McCauley High School on April 16, before returning to Champaign for a scrimmage against the Badgers at Huff Hall on April 23 beginning at 10 a.m. CT to wrap up the spring schedule.
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.
"We are excited for the spring," said head coach Kevin Hambly. "I really like the level of competition we are playing this spring. With a smaller crew of players it would have been tough to play in all day tournaments with multiple teams, so instead we tried to play the best teams we could schedule and keep the volume low. I think we found what we are looking for."
"With that being said, the spring is so much more about us and working through the things we need to get better at from last year and the changes in system and technique that we recognized from the fall. It has been fun working with the group through individuals but everyone is ready to get to work as a team and see if we can put some things together."
The Illini open their spring slate against Kansas State on the campus of Truman State in Kirksville, Mo., on April 2 and then head to Menomonee Falls, Wis., to face Big Ten foe Minnesota on April 9.
UI then makes a trip up to Chicago to take on Marquette at Mother McCauley High School on April 16, before returning to Champaign for a scrimmage against the Badgers at Huff Hall on April 23 beginning at 10 a.m. CT to wrap up the spring schedule.
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.
