In order to join the Spike Squad, you first must join Illini Pride. You can sign upfor Illini Pride at illinipride.com any time or at our cubicle on the 2nd floor of theunion in the R.S.O. complex M-F from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Once you are a member of Illini Pride, you simply attend a volleyball match to bea member of Spike Squad. When you come to Huff Hall, you can sit in the SpikeSquad section, located at the far NE and SE bleacher sections.

History:
The Fighting Illini Women’s Volleyball Team has a rich tradition with a volleyball environment unlike any other at historic Huff Hall. Finishing in the top 25 in attendance over the last 12 years including two crowds of over 4,000 people in the 2011 season. The support for Illinois Volleyball is one of the best in the country.

Illinois Volleyball has 3 final four appearances, 1987, 1988, and 2011. The 2011 Illini were the first in school history to play in the National Championship Match. Senior All-Americans’ Colleen Ward and Michelle Bartsch along with stand-out freshman Liz McMahon led the Illini in the historic 2011 season. Illinois reached #1 in the AVCA coaches’ poll for the first time its 36 year history on September 26th, 2011. Illinois held that #1 spot for 4 weeks in the heat of the B1G season. Although Illinois retained its #1 spot in the RPI for season’s entirety, they finished tied for 2nd in the B1G standings behind conference newcomer Nebraska. While Nebraska and Penn State both fell victim to upsets early in the NCAA tournament, Illinois rolled Central Michigan and Marquette to reach the Sweet 16. Illinois prevailed versus conference foe Ohio State and Sweet 16 host Florida to reach the 3rd final four in team history. Setting up one of the most famous matches in Illinois history versus USC. The 5-set thriller was capped up on a match-point that lasted over a minute!  Illinois eventually fell in a tough fought 4-set match to UCLA. 

The Second place finish was still the best in Illinois Volleyball History.

2012 is a promising season for the Illini as they look to build on last year’s
success and make the next step towards a national title. This year’s team
features 4 returning starters along with a large group of promising freshman. The B1G has four teams in the pre-season top 10 including the Illini. So there will be a lot of exciting action this year at Huff Hall, including Nebraska’s first trip to Champaign that will be featured on ESPN2. So come join Spike Squad, ‘Huff’s secret weapon’, and help keep our storied tradition alive.

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