Aug. 14, 2008

Park Ridge, Ill. -

Complete All-Big Ten Release in PDF format

Illinois sophomore outside hitter Laura DeBruler has been named Pre-Season All-Big Ten by the conference coaches, the league announced today. The coaches also picked the Illini fifth in the league.

DeBruler led all freshmen in Division I in kills while ranking first in the Big Ten and 22nd overall nationally with 4.89 kills per game in 2007. The graduate of Downers Grove (Ill.) North High School had 28 kills in her Illinois debut vs. Bowling Green, the only player even to reach double figures in her first match as an Illini. DeBruler finished the season with 577 kills, the third most by any player in Illinois history. She tallied 15 matches with at least 20 kills, tied for second most in a season in school history. DeBruler ranked second on the Illinois team with 285 digs while being named to three All-Tournament teams in 2007.

The Illini, who went 9-1 on a spring tour of Italy, Croatia, and Slovenia, were selected to return to the top half of the Big Ten. Besides DeBruler, Illinois also returns five starters plus two-year starting libero Ashley Edinger. Setters sophomore Hillary Haen and senior Lizzie Bazzetta give the Illini two talented players at that position. Bazzetta is just 372 assists from fifth on the Illini's all-time list. Sophomore middle blocker Johannah Bangert, who led the team in hitting percentage (.358), is also back as are regular starters Kayani Turner, junior Kylie McCulley and Kristine Anderson, who have spent much of the past two seasons battling injuries. Freshman Michelle Bartsch, fresh off a start with the U.S. Junior National Team at the NORCECA Championships, gives the Illini a force on the right side.

Defending NCAA champion Penn State is the choice to repeat their Big Ten title and has five players on the 12-member all-conference team, followed by Minnesota, Wisconsin, Purdue and Illinois. Michigan, Northwestern, Michigan State, Ohio State, Indiana and Iowa round out the projected order of finish.

Illinois hosts the annual Alumni Event on Aug. 23 then plays North Carolina in the "Stuff Huff" game in the season opener Aug. 29 in the first match of the State Farm Illini Classic.