CHAMPAIGN – Don Hardin learned early in his tenure as University of Illinois volleyball coach the need to sharpen his translation skills.

The language of Illini fans, he discovered, was uniquely Big Tenese.

"When I first got here," the second-year UI coach recalled Wednesday, "they'd say, 'What about your preseason?' "

To Hardin, that meant "How's training camp going?" A puzzling question, he thought, because the season already had started.

Then the former Louisville coach realized what fans actually were inquiring about was "How's your nonconference season going?"

"What they meant was preconference – the matches prior to the Big Ten matches," Hardin said Wednesday.

The distinction spoke volumes to Hardin about the emphasis Illini fans place on the Big Ten schedule. Understandable, he says. But it also got him to wondering whether fans subconsciously were indicating nonconference matches were an inconsequential tuneup for the much-anticipated Big Ten wars.

If so, Hardin hopes he can convince them otherwise.

"They matter a great deal to us and to our positioning for the NCAA tournament," he said. "They're critical."

The positioning begins this weekend, when Illinois heads to Charlottesville, Va., for the Jefferson Cup Tournament. The Illini open the season at 9 a.m. Friday against Delaware, then play Coastal Carolina at 4 that afternoon.

The round-robin tournament concludes on Saturday, with Illinois facing Liberty at 11 a.m. and Virginia at 6 p.m.

They are the first of 10 nonconference matches for an Illini team that finished 13-15 last season and failed to earn an NCAA tournament berth for the first time in 11 years.

With 20 Big Ten matches, Illinois' bid to make the 1997 NCAA tournament obviously will be determined largely during the league schedule. But if the Illini should finish in the middle of the Big Ten pack, a strong nonconference record could convince the NCAA selection committee to include them. Thus, Hardin emphasizes taking pre-Big Ten matches so seriously.

Hardin likes the setup of this year's nonconference schedule for several reasons. First, Illinois will play two more matches than last season. That's two more chances for a better record; two more chances to impress the selection committee.

Secondly, the schedule is structured to give the Illini a good shot at a strong start.

"We aren't playing any doormat teams," Hardin said, "but it starts with an opportunity for some success and increases in difficulty as we go along."

The degree of nonconference difficulty peaks in mid-September, when Illinois faces Georgia Tech, Arkansas and possibly Long Beach State. In the preseason USA Today/AVCA coaches' poll, Long Beach State is ranked fifth and Arkansas 25th. Georgia Tech was among the nonranked schools receiving votes.

That lineup won't be as difficult, however, as the one awaiting the Illini at the start of the Big Ten schedule. Illinois' first three league matches – all on the road – are against 18th-ranked Wisconsin, No. 6 Michigan State and No. 2 Penn State.

An Illini team that finished seventh in the Big Ten last season won't have to wait long to learn how it stacks up with the league's best.

"I think we're a mystery to a lot of people this year, how much we'll improve," said Hardin, whose squad was picked sixth in the Big Ten preseason poll. "The next rung on the ladder that we have to grab ahold of are teams like Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan State, Michigan."

The Illini are far less a mystery to second-year coach Hardin than they were at this time last year. With 10 returnees, including all but one starter, Hardin's handle on his team's strengths and deficiencies is more sure.

"There's not so much uncertainty going into the season," he said. "We at least know where we can get stung and where we can sting others."