Hambly's team seeded fifth, will open against Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne.

CHAMPAIGN – The No. 5 Illinois volleyball team will open the NCAA tournament at home for the second straight year, joined this week at Huff Hall by three teams coming off conference tournament titles.

The Illini (24-5) learned Sunday they will face Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne in the first round at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Mastadons (20-11), an NCAA Division I member since 2001, are making their first NCAA postseason appearance after earning the Summit League's automatic bid. They did so by knocking off top-seeded host North Dakota State – which entered 23-3 and winners of its last 20 home matches – for the conference tournament championship.

MINNEAPOLIS – No. 13 Minnesota avenged a three-set loss to No. 5 Illinois with a sweep of its own Saturday night in a Big Ten volleyball regular season finale.

And much like the first meeting of the season, each set was a battle. This time, the Gophers prevailed 25-23, 25-23, 25-22.

CHAMPAIGN – Illinois celebrated Senior Night on Saturday, but the Illini hope to play again this season at Huff Hall.

Continuing to build their NCAA tournament resume, the fifth-ranked Illini beat Wisconsin 25-23, 25-11, 25-21 in front of nearly 1,500 fans.

CHAMPAIGN – Rachel Feldman has been on the receiving end of plenty of difficult-to-handle serves during her volleyball career.

As the Illinois libero proved Friday night, however, she can dish it out, too, from behind the baseline.

Jeff Huth's review and preview of all things Illinois

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – It's 91 matches and counting for Penn State.

The top-ranked Nittany Lions defeated fifth-ranked Illinois 25-20, 27-25, 25-15 on Friday night before 4,163 spectators, snapping the Illini's 11-match winning streak.

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No. 5 Illinois gets another shot at No. 1 Penn State.