CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini sophomore setter Jordyn Poulter was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten team on Tuesday (August 23), as voted on by the Big Ten coaches, the first such honor of her young career. Additionally, the conference head coaches picked the Illinois volleyball team to finish fifth in the league standings in 2016.
Poulter made an immediate impact for the Illini in her freshman season, starting 29 of 32 matches at the setter position while helping the team to a third-straight NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. She directed the Illini offense with 1,088 assists and recorded eight double-doubles on the season, highlighted by career highs of 59 assists and 21 digs vs. No. 4 Minnesota and a 34-assist, 10-dig performance in an NCAA Tournament first-round victory over Southern Illinois.
Poulter was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and B1G/Pac-12 All-Tournament Team, and also was a two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week and Big Ten Setter of the Week selection. Following her breakout rookie campaign, she was selected as the Fighting Illini Newcomer of the Year.
The Illini, who start the 2016 campaign ranked No. 14 in the AVCA Preseason poll, finished in a tie for seventh place with Michigan State with a 10-10 record in Big Ten play a season ago.
Illinois returns 11 players, including a majority of its starters from its 2015 NCAA Sweet 16 team, including Big Ten All-Freshman Team honorees Poulter and Ali Bastianelli, as well as junior libero Brandi Donnelly and hard-hitting seniors Katie Stadick, Michelle Strizak and Naya Crittenden. The Illini will also welcome in the No. 22-ranked recruiting class, including a pair of Top 100 PrepVolleyball.com Senior Aces in Kaylin Korte and Jacqueline Quade, as well as NC State transfer Blayke Hranicka.
Defending NCAA Champion Nebraska was unanimously chosen as the Big Ten Conference favorite, while NCAA semifinalist and defending Big Ten Champion Minnesota was picked to finish second. Rounding out the top four were Wisconsin in third and Penn State in fourth.
The Illini officially open the 2016 season with the 33rd Annual Illini Classic on August 26-27 at Huff Hall. Illinois kicks off their campaign with a 7 p.m. CT match against Arkansas for Stuff Huff on Friday night, before taking on Xavier and Missouri State on Saturday.
2016 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM
| Name |
School |
Year |
Position |
Hometown |
| Jordyn Poulter |
Illinois |
So. |
Setter |
Aurora, Colo. |
| ABBY COLE |
Michigan |
Sr. |
Middle Blocker |
Grand Haven, Mich. |
| Chloe Reinig |
Michigan State |
Sr. |
Outside Hitter |
South Lyon, Mich. |
| Hannah Tapp |
Minnesota |
Sr. |
Opposite Hitter/Middle Blocker |
Stewartville, Minn. |
| Paige Tapp |
Minnesota |
Sr. |
Middle Blocker |
Stewartville, Minn. |
| Samantha Seliger-Swenson |
Minnesota |
So. |
Setter |
Minnetonka, Minn. |
| Amber Rolfzen |
Nebraska |
Sr. |
Middle Blocker |
Papillion, Neb. |
| KADIE ROLFZEN |
Nebraska |
Sr. |
Outside Hitter |
Papillion, Neb. |
| Justine Wong-Orantes |
Nebraska |
Sr. |
Libero |
Cypress, Calif. |
| Taylor Sandbothe |
Ohio State |
Sr. |
Middle Blocker |
Lee's Summit, Mo. |
| Ali Frantti |
Penn State |
Jr. |
Outside Hitter |
Spring Grove, Ill. |
| HALEIGH WASHINGTON |
Penn State |
Jr. |
Middle Blocker |
Colorado Springs, Colo. |
| LAUREN CARLINI |
Wisconsin |
Sr. |
Setter |
Aurora, Ill. |
| Haleigh Nelson |
Wisconsin |
Sr. |
Middle Blocker |
Cary, N.C. |
2016 PRESEASON POLL
1. NEBRASKA
2. Minnesota
3. Wisconsin
4. Penn State
5. Illinois
6. Ohio State
7. Michigan State
8. Michigan
9. Purdue
10. Northwestern
11. Maryland
12. Iowa
13. Indiana
14. Rutgers
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.
