Nov. 3, 2009
Illinois Volleyball Match Notes in PDF Format 
Illinois hosts Michigan, Michigan State
Illinois hosts Michigan (Friday) and Michigan State (Saturday) at Huff Hall.
Radio:
Both matches will air live on fightingillini.com and WDWS (AM-1400) with Dave Loane (play-by-play) and Mike Trame (analyst) on the call.
Illinois moves to No. 5 in the nation
Illinois improved to No. 5 in the latest AVCA Coaches poll, tied with Stanford. The Illini have moved steadily through the rankings on the coattails of a nine-match winning streak. The Illini began the year ranked 10th, improved to No. 8 in the first regular season poll and dipped to as low as No. 15. Since then the Illini have improved to No. 12 on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, No. 10 on Oct. 12, No. 8 on Oct. 19, No. 6 on Oct. 26 and No. 5 this week.
• This is the highest Illinois ranking since Sept. 29, 1992, when the Illini were also at No. 5. The Illini finished the 1992 regular season sixth after reaching the Elite Eight.
• Illinois is one of four Big Ten teams ranked -- Penn State is No. 1, Minnesota is No. 12 and Michigan is No. 15. Two other opponents -- Florida State and Saint Louis are 16th and 21st, respectively.
Illini lose all-time digs leader Edinger
• With Illinois leading 21-12 in the third set at Purdue, the Illini's Ashley Edinger went down with an injury, later to be diagnosed as a torn ACL. The senior will be out for the remainder of the season. She ends her career as Illinois' all-time digs leader and with the ninth most digs in Big Ten history.
Illinois career digs list
1. Ashley Edinger 1,921
2. Tracey Marshall 1,426
3. Mary Coleman 1,393
4. Lauren Harks 1,346
5. Beth Vrdsky 1,166
6. Sandy Scholtens 1,133
7. Mary Eggers 1,092
8. Petra Laverman 1,003
9. Kathleen Bazzetta 974
10. Shadia Haddad 962
Illinois single-season digs list
1. Ashley Edinger (2007) 564
2. Ashley Edinger (2008) 562
3. Beth Vrdsky (2005) 520
4. Ashley Edinger (2006) 488
5. Tracey Marshall (1998) 465
6. Erin Borske (1995) 396
7. Lauren Harks (2003) 393
8. Mary Coleman (1998) 391
9. Laura DeBruler (2008) 379
10. Shadia Haddad (2000) 371
Illinois single-match list
1. Petra Laverman (9/30/89) 38
2.
Ashley Edinger (11/2/07) 37
3.
Beth Vrdsky (9/16/05) 36
4.
Ashley Edinger (9/12/08) 35
5.
Ashley Edinger (10/21/07) 34
6.
Ashley Edinger (10/9/09 32
Ashley Edinger (8/31/07) 32
Rita Schwartz (9/5/84) 32
8.
Ashley Edinger (9/3/06) 31
Beth Vrdsky (11/16/05) 31
Big Ten's All-Time Digs List
1. 2,791 Paula Gentil, MINN 2002-05
2. 2,182 Jocelyn Wack, WIS 2004-07
3. 2,178 Stesha Selsky, MICH 2004-07
5. 2,067 Kate Nobilio, NU, 2006-pres.
5. 2,013 Kelli Miller, PUR 2005-08
6. 1,957 Kaleena Walters, PSU 2002-05
7. 1,931 Janet Moylan, IOWA 1987-90
8. 1,929 Emily Hiza, IOWA, 2005-08
9. 1,921 Ashley Edinger, ILL 2006-2009
10. 1,920 Susan Wohlford, WIS `88-91
Johnson earns Big Ten Freshman honor
Illinois middle blocker Erin Johnson has been named the Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week. Johnson shares the honor with Darcy Dorton of Penn State. Johnson helped the Illini extend their winning streak to nine with victories at Indiana and Purdue over the weekend. The Illini also move into a tie with Stanford for fifth in the AVCA Coaches poll.
Johnson averaged 2.3 kills per set on .536 hitting. With nine kills against the Hoosiers on Friday, she nearly gave Illinois the victory in the fourth set with three hits down the stretch, then helped Illinois build a lead in the fifth set with two kills. The following night vs. Purdue, she once again tallied nine kills, also tacking on a dig, an assist and two blocks in the sweep. The weekly honor is Johnson's first.
Illinois has now claimed five Big Ten weekly honors, including the last four weeks straight. Laura DeBruler was named Big Ten Player of the Week on Sept. 14, Johannah Bangert the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 12 and 26 and Ashley Edinger the conference's defensive honor on Oct. 19.
Westview Night
Illinois host students from Westview Elementary School in Champaign on Friday night. Students will shadow event staff during the match.
