Continuing Illinois' unselfish attitude for this season, Lisa Argabright, Erin Virtue and Don Hardin all deflected individual praise to the entire team after receiving conference awards.

Argabright and Virtue were named to the All-Big Ten team on Monday. Hardin was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year, for the second time in three years, by the media and the coaches. Hardin split the media coach of the year award with Penn State's Russ Rose.

All three spent more time talking about the honors of the others than their own accomplishments.

"It is a team honor," Argabright said. "I will trade that award in for going deep in the tournament in a heartbeat."

Argabright was the Illini's first offensive option the entire season. When a point was needed, Argabright (3.78 kills and 1.25 blocks) set the volleyball. Defensively, she altered opponents' shots with her block every time she played in the front row.

"In my position it is more of a team thing because you have to deal with the passing on serve receive, the passing on defense and Erin's setting ability," Argabright said. "Without all of that working together match after match there is no way a hitter could get an award."

Argabright, a 2001 All-Big Ten selection, returned to top form after an injury-plagued 2002 season. Argabright sprained her elbow just before the season began. Midway through the season she contracted mono and once again was out of action.

"This year even (Argabright's) bad performances were worthy of attention by the opponents," Hardin said.

Virtue began her season without even thinking of personal stats. In her first year as Illinois setter, she was focused on her teammates and the number of wins the team racked up.

"I had no expectations for any kind of goals or anything," Virtue said. "I'm just looking for how well our team is doing.

"The award we get at the end of the year reflects how the team has done this year. We have girls who have not set foot on the court this year who have made huge impacts."

Virtue spent the season diving all over the court after any volleyball. Against Minnesota she required stitches after diving and cutting open her arm.

When she wasn't on the ground, Virtue (13.45 assists and 2.68 digs) distributed the volleyball to the Illini hitters, consistently putting the ball in the perfect spot for an Illini player to register a kill.

"No individual I have played with during my five years deserves an award more," Argabright said. "She not only is one of the greatest setters I've worked with, but her overall effort is there 100 percent of the time."

Hardin led the Illini to a second place finish in the Big Ten at 15-5, the best finish for the Illini in the Big Ten during his tenure. Hardin also earned the Coach of the Year award from the coaches in 2001.

"It is definitely the team and my assistant coaches (that helped me get this award)," Hardin said. "(Anne Kordes and Christine Masel) together take care of stuff. I was very focused this year on the team and their needs. This is really an honor of the assistant coaches."

The team was glad their success on the court was able to help get Hardin recognized by those around the conference.

"I'm so excited for him," Virtue said. "He deserved it. His attitude toward this team and the way he's built this program, it has reaffirmed the reasons why I came to Illinois because it shows he is getting the respect he deserves."