Team's youth not a concern at tourney
Illini finish 7-5 over weekend


by Lisa Miller
Daily Illini sports reporter

A young team can lead to up-and-down play, but it isn't something Illinois is too concerned about at this point.

The Illinois volleyball team played six matches Saturday in the Annual Networks Spring Volleyball Tournament. Played in a round-robin format, the team featured seven teams each playing matches consisting of two games. The Illini went 7-5 for the tournament.

Illinois lost to Cincinnati in the first game, 15-6, but defeated them in the second game, 15-5. Missouri swept Illinois in two games, 15-5, 15-11. Arkansas State fell to the Illini in two, 15-8, 15-2.

Illinois saw only one team from the Big Ten and was able to take both games away from Purdue, 15-9, 15-10.

"Purdue didn't have a full team," Illinois head coach Don Hardin said. "They had to bring back seniors who are not practicing with their squad to fill their roster so their younger players could get some playing time.

"Then you had Missouri, who had their nucleus returning with their setter, and at this time of the year that makes you look a lot better," he said.

Rice was able to defeat Illinois, 15-7, 15-11. Illinois finished the tournament strong with a win over Ball State, 15-7, 15-11.

"Not to drag at the end and have the ability to pull together as a team and give a real good effort really helps give encouragement," Hardin said. "We're a long ways from where we want to be, but we have tremendous potential for growth."

Illinois junior middle blocker Betsy Spicer led the Illini with 32 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Shadia Haddad added 25 kills.

Setting duties alternated between junior setter Heather Wilson and freshman setter Betsy Eiserman. Since the graduation of senior setter Melissa Beitz, Hardin has been switching Wilson and Eiserman to determine a starting setter.

Hardin said that he will not make a decision on which setter to use until the fall. He said there is the option to use a combination of both setters during the season as well.

"We don't even notice it as much now when we switch setters," Spicer said. "We're winning with both, so that just shows how much better we're getting. It gets tough sometimes because we're inexperienced, but as long as we keep our bad times to a minimum, we're going to be fine."

Aside from Eiserman, two other freshmen were in the lineup - middle blocker Sue Webber and middle blocker/outside hitter Anne Koester.

"We have a lot of young players that are going to do things on occasion, and we're going to have to be patient with them," Hardin said. "They're going to do some amazing things, too."

Recently hired assistant coach Monica Holmes was part of the Illini for the first time on Saturday.

"However, the opportunity to come to the Big Ten and the storied Illinois volleyball program - I just can't believe I'm here," she said.

Illinois will participate in their last spring tournament on April 29 in Las Vegas.