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At the top (25) of their game

Posted by: Jeff Huth

Thursday, October 23, 2008 1:52 PM

You can point to plenty of statistics and numbers that show how much improvement the Illini volleyball team has made compared to the past three seasons.

Here's one that might be the most revealing and significant of all: 5-3.

That's No 19 Illinois' record against Top 25 opponents.

Since losing to then-No. 13 Minnesota on Oct. 3, the Illini are a perfect 3-0 against ranked foes. In that span, Illinois not only defeated Michigan, Wisconsin and Purdue, but did not drop even one set to any of them. It's been a dominant run by any measure.

Now compare that to how the Illini fared against Top 25 teams the previous three years: a cumulative 4-20.

When confronted by the best teams on its schedule, this Illinois team clearly is meeting the challenge after failing so often in the recent past.

That bodes well for a program trying to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004. The tournament selection committee closely examines a team's record against Top 25 opponents while making at-large selections.

The same record figures prominently, too, in a team's RPI. That's another figure that reflects the major strides this Illini team has made. In the most recent NCAA RPI, made public on Oct. 13, the Illini were No. 9. The next RPI is due out on Oct. 28.

Of course, there still is too much of the schedule left - the halfway point of the Big Ten race won't be reached until this weekend - to confidently predict that Illinois will end its NCAA tournament drought.

But all signs so far are highly encouraging. And, because the Illini play in the Big Ten, there will be plenty more opportunities to continue to test their mettle against ranked teams. Based on the current AVCA Top 25, Illinois could play as many as five more matches against ranked foes.

Fare well in those and the question might not be whether the Illini will make the NCAA tournament but whether they will be picked to host first- and second-round matches.