With Louisville and Murray State coming to town for the NCAA Tournament, the state of Kentucky is taking over Champaign. For several Illini, they couldn't feel more at home.

Three players and two coaches have Kentucky ties that have them feeling like they are back in the Bluegrass state this week.

"It will be fun to see some familiar faces," Illinois assistant coach Anne Kordes said.

Illinois head coach Don Hardin coached Louisville for eight years, reaching the NCAA Tournament six times.

Kordes is a Louisville native and played volleyball at Louisville for two years after transferring from Cincinnati.

Senior middle blockers Lisa Argabright and Shelly O'Bryan both played high school volleyball in Louisville. Also, sophomore outside hitter Rachel VanMeter now lives in Lexington, Ky., after attending high school in South Carolina.

Kordes, Argabright and O'Bryan all know players on the Louisville roster.

O'Bryan played high school volleyball at Assumption High School, under Ron Kordes, Anne's father, along with Louisville defensive specialist Candace Cogan and setter Jennifer Craven. Both start for the Cardinals.

"I'm so excited to get them up here and see them," O'Bryan said.

Argabright played with Cogan and Louisville senior outside hitter Bennie Flynn on the same club volleyball team.

Kordes has seen the Assumption players grow from youth volleyball players to high school and club volleyball. Now she can see how they have progressed since entering college.

"To be able to watch kids grow up and coach against them or coach them in Shelly and Lisa's case is unique," Kordes said. "I can't imagine many people getting that opportunity.

"That was the last place I was before getting into coaching. I don't want to see Louisville do bad but you want to show them 'Hey! I'm doing well.'"

Tough Competition

llinois may be hosting the first two rounds of the tournament, but the selection committee did not do them any favors.

No. 18 Illinois, No. 19 Louisville and No. 21 Notre Dame have been fixtures in the polls late in the season and will be fighting to leave Champaign and make it into the Sweet Sixteen.

"I think all four teams are quite capable of beating the other on a given night," Hardin said. "That is really going to make it very interesting. We could beat any of these teams and they could beat us."

Family Feud With the Irish

If Illinois advances and plays Notre Dame in the second round Illinois junior setter Erin Virtue will be facing the alma mater of two of her older siblings, Patrick and Shannon.

This year's Notre Dame team finished the season 23-6 and took second in the Big East Tournament. Head coach Debbie Brown was named Big East Coach of the year while senior setter Kristen Kinder and sophomore middle blockers Lauren Brewster and Lauren Kelbley were all named to the First Team All-Big East.

Murray State

Murray State (18-11) won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, receiving an automatic bid. Sophomore setter Nikki Wong was named to the second team All-OVC team.