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Weekend watch

Three Illini events to keep an eye on this weekend:

VOLLEYBALL

7 p.m. Friday vs. Purdue

With their next four matches at home, the No. 12 Illini (10-3) have an opportunity to regain some momentum following a 2-2 start in the Big Ten race. Kevin Hambly's team is 4-1 at Huff Hall, the lone loss coming against No. 1 and undefeated Penn State. After Purdue, Illinois will host Indiana at 7 p.m. Saturday, followed by visits next week by Northwestern and Minnesota. The No. 5 Gophers are the only nationally ranked foe in that four-match stretch, although Purdue and Indiana each received votes this week. Purdue (9-6, 1-3 Big Ten) enters with a three-match losing streak. However, the Boilermakers have defeated a Michigan State team that handed Illinois a five-set loss last weekend. In addition, Purdue is 2-3 against Top 25 foes, and four of its six losses have come against current Top 25 teams, with the other two coming against squads receiving poll votes. In other words, ignore the record. Like most Big Ten teams, the Boilermakers can be dangerous.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

1 p.m. Sunday vs. Wisconsin

Entering their fourth Big Ten match, the Illini still are looking for their first conference win. The good news for Janet Rayfield's squad (5-4-3) is that it has one league loss. Following a tie Sunday at Indiana, Illinois is 0-1-2 in the Big Ten. The Illini, who last won Sept. 20, are on a different kind of streak against the Badgers. Illinois has won its last seven matches against Wisconsin dating back to 2003. That's the Illini's longest current winning streak against a Big Ten opponent. But these Badgers (6-5-2, 2-1-1 Big Ten) have been making some noise in the conference. They tied No. 9 Purdue, which beat Illinois, and defeated an Indiana team that tied the Illini.

SWIMMING & DIVING

11 a.m. Saturday at Nebraska

The Illini open their season against a Cornhuskers team they beat at home last October en route to a 5-4 dual-meet record. Tenth-year UI coach Sue Novitsky is counting heavily on her 10 seniors to provide leadership and set the training tone for an otherwise-youthful team. Illinois' roster of 38 includes 23 freshmen and sophomores. More than a few Illini – from all classes – were affected by flu-like symptoms during the preseason. "The first three weeks, we were hit pretty bad with the flu," Novitsky said. However, after seeing her team perform last Friday in the annual Orange and Blue scrimmage, the UI coach is confident her swimmers weren't significantly set back. The Illini set five all-time UI scrimmage records in swimming and two more in diving. "To see them bounce back and have a pretty good training base coming off (the flu), I'm very happy with that," Novitsky said. Top returnees include senior co-captain CeCe Marizu, the No. 2 all-time Illini individual in the 200-yard backstroke; and senior Kristen Kloeckener, the No. 4 all-time Illini individual in the 200 freestyle. Sophomore Brittany McGowan appears poised for a breakout season after setting the UI scrimmage record in the 100 butterfly and contributing to two scrimmage record-setting relays. "McGowan had a terrific scrimmage meet," Novitsky said. "Her freestyle (relay) split was faster than her best time last year." Newcomers to keep an eye on include Lauren Wismer, who set two scrimmage diving records; Erin Lamb (freestyle, backstroke); and Erin Rodriguez (butterfly, individual medley, freestyle). "We're looking for them to really make an impact," Novitsky said.

Illini of the Week

KYLIE McCULLEY

Volleyball

The Clinton native had piled up 22 kills before but never in such critical circumstances as Illinois faced Saturday. Staring at a possible 1-3 start to their Big Ten season, the No. 12 Illini rallied from a two sets-to-none deficit to knock off then-No. 6 Michigan behind McCulley's refuse-to-lose performance. En route to tying her career high for kills, the senior outside hitter was at her best in the decisive fifth set, pounding five kills while hitting .556. "Kylie made plays and executed at a level we've never seen before," UI coach Kevin Hambly said. "It was obvious that she wanted to win that match and just took over." McCulley's third double-double of the season (she had 11 digs) was accompanied by a team-high three service aces and four hitting errors in 54 swings. Her difference-making play against the Wolverines capped a stellar weekend by the two-time News-Gazette All-Area Player of the Year. One night earlier, McCulley belted 19 kills and barely missed a double-double with nine digs in a five-set loss at Michigan State.

News & Views

Time to get moving

When Janet Rayfield considers her team's sluggish Big Ten start, the Illini women's soccer coach can find a bit of comfort by looking at the standings. Two weekends into the conference race, ninth-place Illinois is 0-1-2, but eight other teams have at least one loss. And the two teams that don't – Purdue and Minnesota – each have at least one tie. In other words, no team is running away in the bunched-up Big Ten. "I think it's as much of an open battle as it was two weeks ago," Rayfield said. "I don't think there's any clear-cut front-runner, and I don't think there's anybody who's showing they're going to be the team to beat." Still, Rayfield will be the first to admit her Illini must start stringing together some wins to be a factor in the title race. "I think there's a sense of urgency, especially being at home this weekend, that we've got to play well," she said, "because every point now in the Big Ten is going to matter." Starting with Sunday's match against visiting Wisconsin, four of Illinois' next six Big Ten matches are at home. This stretch also has NCAA tournament implications for the Illini, especially because the Big Ten no longer conducts a league tournament. That tournament used to determine the Big Ten's automatic NCAA bid. Now, it goes to the regular season champion, with any other Big Ten team needing an at-large bid to get in. "Without a Big Ten tournament, how you fare (in the Big Ten) and how the Big Ten plays out is going to be an important piece (for) the NCAA selection committee," Rayfield said.

Rotation questions

When pitcher Phil Haig was dismissed from the Illini baseball team last week, it raised several questions about the makeup of the 2010 starting rotation. Who will succeed the junior left-hander as the No. 1 starter? And who will fill out a rotation that now has another hole?

Illinois coach Dan Hartleb says it's premature to speculate, and he isn't giving it much thought as the team wraps up its fall practice period this week.

"I don't know at this point," Hartleb said. "To me, the fall is very much a teaching time. I don't base anything that happens in the fall on final decisions."

Since most Illini pitchers were involved in summer leagues, Hartleb and pitching coach Ken Westray are limiting hurlers to two innings or 40 pitches in any simulated games and in the Orange and Blue World Series.

"We haven't extended anybody out to see who has that (starting) durability," Hartleb said. "We'll have to see where guys are in the spring."

Haig was dismissed after being arrested for theft of property valued at more than $300, according to a Champaign police report. The left-hander made a team-high 16 starts and won a team-high seven games last season. The Illini also must replace 2009 senior Ben Reeser, whose 11 starts were the second most on the team.

Illinois has two returnees with significant starting experience: sophomores Bryan Roberts (10 starts) and Will Strack (nine). Versatile junior Lee Zerrusen also might be in the 2010 mix. Another intriguing possibility is senior Kevin Manson, who went 8-2 as a sophomore but disappeared last season after a rocky start. Manson's decline is another reason Hartleb is loath to speculate now on his 2010 rotation.

"What you've done one year doesn't necessarily mean you're going to do that the next year," the UI coach said.

Ex-Illini on world stage

Former Illini gymnast Wes Haagensen is scheduled to make his World Championships debut next week in London. The six-time All-American and five other members of the U.S. men's team will compete Oct. 13-18 at the O2, the gymnastics venue for the 2012 Olympic Games.

After placing third in the all-around at the U.S. Championships in August, Haagensen was chosen as one of the alternates to the U.S. World Team. When two original team members withdrew, Haagensen was added as a replacement. One of those who withdrew, 2008 U.S. all-around champion David Sender, did so to continue his education at the UI College of Veterinary Medicine.

Eddleman Award Watch

Each week we'll rank our top three candidates for the 2009-10 Dike Eddleman Award, which annually goes to the top male and female athletes at the University of Illinois.

MALE

1. Scott Langley, golf. Junior is No. 2 in nation in Golfweek/Sagarin computer rankings,

2. Clay Nurse, football. Another tackle for loss (he's up to 4 1/2) and two QB hurries against Penn State.

3. Colin Mickow, cross-country. Personal-best 8K time (24:39) led Illini at Wisconsin Inter-Regional.

FEMALE

1. Angela Bizzarri, cross-country. Two-time Eddleman winner second at Wisconsin Inter-Regional.

2. Laura DeBruler, volleyball. Team kills leader also No. 1 Illini in service aces with 13.

3. Marissa Mykines, soccer. Sophomore already has doubled 2008 points total this year with 10.

The List

The No. 12 Illini volleyball team defeated a Top 10 opponent for the first time in almost five years Saturday. Illinois' last five victories against a Top 10 foe:

DATE OPPONENT SCORE

Oct. 3, 2009 at No. 6 Michigan 3-2

Oct. 23, 2004 vs. No. 7 Ohio State 3-0

Sept. 11, 2004 vs. No. 1 USC 3-2

Oct. 12, 2002 at No. 6 Minnesota 3-2

Sept. 12, 1998 vs. No. 7 Texas 3-2