Illinois Volleyball releases 2024 non-conference slate

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball head coach Chris Tamas announced the Fighting Illini’s non-conference schedule on Tuesday.

The Illini non-conference schedule features 10 games, including one taking place at Huff Hall. The Orange and Blue will face stiff competition, with four teams having competed in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

The season opens on August 30 when the Illini take on Cincinnati in a tournament hosted by Bowling Green. One of the newest members of the Illinois squad, Vivian Campbell, is quite familiar with the Bearcat squad, having transferred from Cincinnati earlier this summer. Illinois will take on host BGSU on August 31 to close out the weekend.

The first home game of the season is scheduled for September 3, when the Illini host Illinois State at Huff Hall. Illinois topped the Redbirds 3-1 last year. Brooke Mosher registered 37 assists and 16 digs, keeping the team afloat in both categories during the four-set win.

An Iowa State tournament begins on September 6, with Illinois battling Toledo in the first game of the weekend. The Illini follow the game with a showdown against the host Cyclones on September 7. The team closes out the weekend with a Sunday win against Wake Forest on September 8.

The following weekend, the Illini head to the Bluegrass State for a two-day tournament. The Illini will face two teams that reached the second round of the NCAA tournament a season ago in Dayton (September 13) and WKU (September 14).

Illinois travels to Lipscomb for its final non-conference weekend. The Orange and Blue will take on Missouri on September 20 before taking on host Bison on September 21.

The 2024 season marks the eighth under the leadership of Tamas, who owns a 131-81 overall record at the helm of the Fighting Illini. Illinois returns two-time All-Big Ten First Team honoree and two-time AVCA All-Region selection Raina Terry for the coming campaign.