The Big Ten Conference has announced its 2024 volleyball schedule, which includes a 20-match league play for Illinois. The Fighting Illini will face three teams both at home and away, while the remaining 14 teams will be played once—seven at home and seven on the road. This year's rotation ensures that all matchups not held at certain sites in 2023 will occur there in 2024. Additionally, teams in Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Central Standard Time (CST) each have one away/away road trip to Pacific Standard Time (PST). Geographic considerations and competitive balance were also factored into the scheduling.
Illinois' schedule features home-and-away matches against Indiana, Nebraska, and Northwestern. Home-only games include Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio State, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin. Away-only matches are set against Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, and Washington.
The Fighting Illini's league play begins with road matches in the Pacific Northwest against Oregon on September 27 and Washington on September 28. The first home game at Huff Hall is against Nebraska on October 3. Illinois will then host Northwestern on October 6 before traveling to Michigan and Michigan State.
Following their return from Michigan State on October 12, Illinois will face Indiana at home on October 16 and Maryland on October 20. A rematch with Nebraska takes place away on October 25 before visiting Iowa on October 27.
In November, Illinois plays Northwestern away before hosting Wisconsin on November 3 at Huff Hall. This begins a series of three consecutive home games including USC and Ohio State.
Further matches see Illinois visiting Penn State and Purdue mid-November before concluding their home stand with games against Rutgers on November 22, UCLA on November 23, and Minnesota on November 27. Their final Big Ten match is scheduled for November 29 at Indiana.
This season marks the eighth year under head coach Chris Tamas who has achieved an overall record of 131-81 with the team.
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