The record's not as gaudy as it was at this time a year ago: 7-3 compared to 9-1.

And the place in the standings is downright eye-opening. Line up all the Big Ten volleyball teams in order of preconference wins and losses, and expect a wait before getting to Illinois.

Keep going. A little farther. Almost there.

CHAMPAIGN – At 5-foot-8, Melissa Beitz can be an inviting target for rival volleyball hitters.

So when blocking Kansas State proved to be an especially tall order for the Illinois setter Saturday, her coach made like an NL baseball manager and pulled a double-switch.

No. 22 Illinois fell to a ranked volleyball team for the second consecutive match, losing in four games to No. 16 Arkansas on Friday at the Arkansas Invitational.

The Illini (6-2), who lost to No. 1 Penn State last Saturday, fell 15-12, 13-15, 15-12, 15-7.

When the University of Illinois volleyball team plays No. 16 Arkansas on Friday night, the visitors will bring a national ranking onto the court, too.

NORMAL – Tracey Marshall went from torrid to tepid. Melissa Beitz was off her game, too.

The Illinois volleyball team could have been in a world of hurt. Likely would have been in a world of hurt as recently as last season.

NORMAL – The season's barely begun, but the University of Illinois volleyball team already knows this much about itself:

No deficit is too big to overcome.

CHAMPAIGN – The killer instinct wasn't missing. It was just briefly misplaced.

After squandering a seven-point lead in Game 1 and losing the next game as well, the Illinois volleyball team beat the odds and Oral Roberts on Saturday night at Huff Hall.

CHAMPAIGN – For a while, Southeast Missouri State didn't know what hit them.

"The first two games, we were a little shell-shocked," Otahkians coach Cindy Gannon said.