Volleyball Opens At Illini Classic
August 28, 2014 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.- The Carolina volleyball team is set to open its season this weekend, playing three matches at the University of Illinois' Illini Classic Friday and Saturday.
Illini Classic
Friday, August 29:
No. 20 North Carolina v. Southern Illinois – 5 P.M. ET/4 P.M. CT Gametracker
No. 11 Illinois v. Long Beach State – 8 P.M. ET/7 P.M. CT
Saturday, August 30:
No. 11 Illinois v. Southern Illinois – 11 A.M. ET/10 A.M. CT
Long Beach State v. No. 20 North Carolina – 1:30 P.M. ET/12:30 P.M. CT Gametracker
Southern Illinois v. Long Beach State – 6 P.M. ET/5 P.M. CT
No. 11 Illinois v. No. 20 North Carolina – 8:30 P.M. ET/7:30 P.M. CT Gametracker Live Radio Live Video
Previewing Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois finished the 2013 season with a 20-13 record, and a 13-5 record in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Salukis reached the Missouri Valley Conference tournament finals last year, before falling to Witchita State.
SIU returns several starters and contributors for the 2014 season, including All-MVC selection Taylor Pippen, MVC All-Freshmen selection Hannah Kaminsky, MVC All-Freshmen selection Meg Viggars, and senior libero Alex Rivera.
Head Coach Justin Ingram is heading into his third year at Southern Illinois, and his fifth year as a head coach. Ingram has a 41-22 (.651) career record at SIU, and has led the team to two straight 20-win seasons.
UNC is 1-1 all-time against the Salukis, with the first match coming in 1987.
Previewing Long Beach State
Long Beach State finished the 2013 season with an 18-11 record, and an 11-5 record in the Big West Conference, including two victories over co-Big West champion UC Santa Barbara.
The Beach was voted No. 2 in the 2014 Big West Women's Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll, including one first place vote. They are also receiving votes in the AVCA Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Long Beach State has won 5 national championships, most recently in 1998, and has been to 8 Final Fours, most recently in 2001. Head Coach Brian Gimmillaro was at the helm for three of those titles.
Gimmillaro is heading into his 30th year at Long Beach State, with a record of 762-200 (.792). He returns two-time AVCA Honorable Mention All-American Chisom Okpala, 2012 Big West All-Freshmen selection Alex Reid, and libero Tyler Jackson for the 2014 season.
UNC is 1-1 all-time against Long Beach State, with their last meeting being a 3-2 victory for the Tar Heels in the Kentucky Classic in 2012.
Previewing No. 11 Illinois
llinois finished the 2013 season 18-15, with a 12-8 record in the Big Ten, and reached the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament. The Illini had 10 Top 25 wins last season, including victories over then No. 11 Iowa State, No. 13 Michigan State, and No. 22 Marquette.
Head Coach Kevin Hambly, entering his sixth year at Illinois, has a overall record of 114-51 (.691) at IIlinois and was named Volleyball Magazine National Coach of the Year in 2011, when the Illini reached the national championship match.
Illinois returns AVCA All-American and All-Big Ten selection Jocelynn Birks, AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and All-Big Ten selection Liz McMahon, and starting setter Alexis Viliunas.
UNC is 2-3 against Illinois, with their last meeting being on Sept. 20, 2013. Then No. 15 UNC defeated No. 16 Illinois in Chapel Hill, 3-0.