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WEEKEND WATCH

Three Illini events to keep an eye on this weekend:

WRESTLING

6:30 p.m. Thursday at Missouri

After 17 seasons as Mark Johnson's top assistant at Illinois, Jim Heffernan makes his debut as head coach against the No. 10 Tigers. He takes over a No. 19 Illinois team with six NCAA qualifiers, although the highest-profile member of that group is expected to redshirt. Two-time All-American Jimmy Kennedy, who finished fifth at 133 pounds at the 2009 NCAA Championships, likely will use this season to prepare for a move to 141. Since Kennedy wrestled freestyle this summer at a weight approximate to 133, the senior was unable to bulk up for the higher weight class in time for the 2009-10 campaign. The strength of the UI lineup appears to be at the upper weights. Sophomore Jordan Blanton is ranked seventh at 174 pounds; John Dergo 10th at 184; and Patrick Bond 13th at 197. Dergo and Bond are three-time NCAA qualifiers. Even without Kennedy, the projected starting lineup includes only four new faces at the 10 weight classes. However, since Dergo and Blanton have swapped weights since last season, the Illini would have a different wrestler at as many as six positions.

VOLLEYBALL

6 p.m. Friday at Penn State

Something has to give when two streaking Big Ten rivals collide in State College, Pa. Two-time defending NCAA champion Penn State owns the mother of all volleyball streaks, having won its last 90 matches. The Nittany Lions' streak ranks third all time among all NCAA sports behind Miami men's tennis (137 in a row from 1957 to '64 and North Carolina women's soccer (92 straight from 1990 to '94). By those gargantuan standards, the Illini's 11-match winning streak is exceedingly modest. Still, it is the longest UI streak in 17 years, dating back to the 1992 Illini winning 22 in a row. Needless to say, a 12th straight victory by No. 5 Illinois would send shockwaves across the NCAA volleyball landscape. No. 1 Penn State (26-0, 14-0 Big Ten) has lost four sets (out of 82) this season. Illinois (20-3, 12-2) is among the 23 opponents the Nittany Lions have swept, on Sept. 26 at Huff Hall. Expect the Illini to command the full attention of Penn State in this rematch. To this point, second-place Illinois has established itself as the most dangerous challenger the Nittany Lions face in their march toward a seventh straight Big Ten title.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Saturday at NCAA Midwest Regional Championships

The Illini men's and women's teams head to Springfield, Mo., for the meet that determines who gets into the NCAA Championships. Since 2004, the No. 13 Illinois women have not finished lower than second at regionals, including the program's lone title in this meet in 2006. That means the Illini have experienced their share of runner-up finishes in that span, something the best female distance runner in UI history can relate to. Senior Angela Bizzarri has placed second in all three of her previous regionals, a streak the three-time cross-country All-American hopes to end with a win in her final regional. UI coach Jeremy Rasmussen expects a three-way battle for the title between Bizzarri, Minnesota's Megan Duwell and Iowa State's Lisa Koll. Bizzarri finished second and Duwell third in the Big Ten meet. Koll placed third in the Big 12 meet. "They are all accomplished runners," he said, "and it will be a fun race to be a part of. It would be great for Angela to win and get the recognition that she deserves. Usually, the winner of the region race is also selected as the Regional Runner of the Year." As a team, the Illini women enter with the No. 1 ranking in the Midwest Region.

Wendel McRaven's Illinois men, No. 8 in the Midwest, are looking for a sharper performance after placing seventh two weeks ago in the Big Ten meet. "I really think we've got a better one in us," McRaven said. "If we are close to where we need to be by 5K (kilometers) to 6K in the 10K race, then we will be fine. We know we can finish well; we've done it all year."

The men's race starts at noon, with the women's 6K meet scheduled for 1:15 p.m. The two teams and top four individuals not on a qualifying team automatically advance to nationals. Additional teams and individuals are chosen through an at-large process. The NCAA Championships is Nov. 23 at Terre Haute, Ind.

ILLINI OF THE WEEK

LAURA DeBRULER, Volleyball

The junior outside hitter became the sixth Illini in history to reach 1,500 career kills (see The List, below) while powering the UI attack last weekend in victories against Michigan and Michigan State. DeBruler racked up 21 kills – her sixth 20-kill match of the season – while hitting .283 in the four-set win against the Wolverines on Friday. The Downers Grove native also contributed 13 digs for her 13th double-double of the season. One night later, DeBruler had another match high for kills (15) and hit .538. In the two matches, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week averaged 5.1 kills and 2.6 digs per set while hitting .367.

NEWS & VIEWS

Regional musing

With 20 wins and a No. 4 RPI ranking, look for the Illini volleyball team to be awarded hosting rights for the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament. If so, Illinois would be home for the opening of the postseason for the second year in a row and fourth time this decade. It's been 17 years, however, since the next stage of the tournament – regionals – was held on the UI campus. But Illinois' 1992-like run of success this season has sparked speculation about whether the school might bid for a regional in the near future. "There has been not been any serious discussions about hosting a regional at this time," Illini coach Kevin Hambly said. The bidding deadline for the 2010 and 2011 regionals has passed, according to an NCAA official. Those bids will be reviewed during the Thanksgiving weekend, with the selection of host sites announced shortly thereafter.

If Illinois were to put in a bid for 2012 or succeeding regionals, its cause would be helped by several deep runs in the tournament. "The NCAA usually awards hosts because of their history of Final Eight appearances," Hambly said. There's no question where the UI coach stands on pursuing a regional. "If we could host that, then it would be a significant home-court advantage," he said, "so of course I would be in favor of it."

Nelson update

Don't look for Abby Nelson, a starter at middle blocker in 2008, to play for the Illini volleyball team this season. A chronic hip problem continues to keep the junior off the practice court, with no sign that will change any time soon, according to Hambly. Nelson had surgery last December for a labrum tear in her left hip. "She is not recovering," Hambly said. "I do not expect her to play this season."

Nelson briefly trained with the Illini at the start of preseason practice before pain forced her to stop. At the time, Hambly projected that the 6-foot-3 Nelson might be ready to play by the start of the Big Ten schedule. He later pushed back the timetable to the middle of the conference race. Now, it appears she is out for the season. Hambly indicated that Nelson has been slow to recover because of a degenerative condition in the hip. The UI coach wouldn't speculate on Nelson applying for a medical redshirt because it's unclear whether the Chicago native can recover enough to resume her career.

"Until we see the injury going a good direction, it is a moot point to make a decision right now," Hambly said. "We are kind of in a wait-and-see mode right now."

In Nelson's absence, freshman Erin Johnson has emerged as a more-than-capable replacement. Johnson ranks third on the team in total blocks (70) and block assists (64). On the attack, the 6-3 middle blocker has 102 kills and is hitting .308.

Track great dies

Former Illini track standout Marcelino "Marce" Gonzalez died Nov. 5 at 86. The Merrillville, Ind., resident won the Big Ten title in the 220-yard dash in 1945 and was a member of the Big Ten indoor champion mile relay team in 1946. A four-year letter winner (1943-46), Gonzalez also was a UI assistant coach from 1948 to '51. He later served as a teacher, coach and administrator in the Gary, Ind., school system for 48 years. Gonzalez coached the Gary Tolleston boys' track and field team to the Indiana state title in 1966.

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. Clay Nurse, football. Junior defensive end's four sacks against Minnesota most in Big Ten this season.

2. D.J. Richardson, basketball. It was only an exhibition, but 23 points showed freshman's firepower.

3. Dennis Nevolo, tennis. 24th-ranked player ended fall campaign 8-3 in singles, 11-1 in doubles.

FEMALE

1. Angela Bizzarri, cross-country. Three-time NCAA regional runner-up takes final shot at No. 1 on Saturday.

2. Johannah Bangert, volleyball. Junior had sixth match of career with double-figures block assists Friday.

3. Lauren Wismer, diving. Freshman has won seven of 10 events she's entered this season.

THE LIST

With her third kill of the match last Friday against Michigan, junior outside hitter Laura DeBruler became the sixth volleyball player in Illini history to reach 1,500 for her career.

NAME KILLS YEARS

Mary Eggers 1,761 1985-88

Mary Coleman 1,707 1995-98

Nancy Brookhart 1,669 1986-89

Rachel VanMeter (right) 1,662 2002-05

Tracey Marshall 1,657 1996-99

Laura DeBruler 1,533 2007-present