Illinois enters the match against No. 7 Wisconsin with momentum

“I think we’re peaking at the right time,” the fifth-year outside hitter said Raina Terry said. “You’re not going to play your best volleyball at the start of the season, you want to play your best volleyball in November and I think we’re on the right track to achieving that.”

The Illini received votes in last week's AVCA poll and are currently ranked No. 25 in the RPI, the selection committee's benchmark for selecting its field of 64. The Illini (15-6, 7-4 Big Ten) are currently tied with them is seventh in the Big Ten standings, but five of its last nine games have come against conference opponents ranked in the top half.

Illinois head coach Chris Tamas is tasked with beating the teams below them and trying to take at least one win from a team above them.

Tamas said the new 18-team Big Ten Conference can serve as a good benchmark to show where teams with postseason aspirations stand.

“When a team is in the top third [of the Big Ten]“They’re fighting for a spot,” he said. “If a team is in the middle third, they are fighting for a place in the tournament.” The teams in the bottom third have nothing to lose. We will ensure that every opponent is respected and we continue to attack in every game as we have done so far.”

When the Illini host Wisconsin (Sunday, 1 p.m., BTN+), they have a chance for a big RPI win.

The Badgers are, on average, one of the biggest teams in the country. They have a pair of middle blockers at 6-foot-9 Anna Smrek and 6-foot-7 Carter Booth who combine for 4.2 kills per set while being 6-foot-4 outside hitters Sarah Franklin tops the team in kills with 4.44 per set.

Head coach in his 12th season in Madison Kelly Sheffield Wisconsin ranked seventh nationally and eighth in RPI. They currently rank second in the nation in blocks per set with an average score of 3.08. For comparison, Illinois ranks 76th and averages 2.36.

“I think you just have to try,” Terry said of the approach against Wisconsin. “You have to know when is the right time to do it and when is the right time to get it under control.”

“You just have to keep going, do your best and keep your head sharp,” Terry said of the approach against Wisconsin. “Yes, it's a big block, but a big block isn't always helpful. They also have their weaknesses.”

Terry mentioned that hits against the Badgers could be played off their block and non-powerful hits like rolls or tips could also be useful on Sunday.

The Marengo, Ohio, native is one of only two players on Illinois' active roster to play in an NCAA Tournament game and the only one to see the court during the Illini's 2021 Sweet Sixteen run.

“I think we have the guts, I think we have everything in hand,” she said. “I can’t say the same about previous years, we always did our best but it felt like there was always something missing, but I think this year we did it all.”

When discussing the team's postseason goals in internal discussions, Terry said something Illinois sports fans might be more likely to hear on Saturdays.

“I mean, I think we know we all have that goal,” Terry said. “We don't talk about it a lot, but we know it, and it comes up every now and then, but we just focus on what we said and go 1-0 every day, 1-0 every day. “Touch , what you do.

All-time Terry

With the Illini's win over Northwestern on Friday, Terry became the all-time leader of another Illinois volleyball statistic. She already moved to the top of the Illinois all-time kills and points list earlier this season, but against the Wildcats she moved to the top of the all-time career kills leader.

Asked if she would imagine herself as Illinois' all-time leader in a handful of stats, Terry laughed, shook her head and said, “No, not at all.” I had no idea I would be where I am today.”

Terry plays in six rotations for Illinois, meaning she rarely, if ever, leaves the court for Illinois. It's been that way for a few seasons, but Terry said she didn't envision herself being a constant presence on the court and eventually becoming a force to be reckoned with in Champaign.

“If you look at how I started my first year, I wasn't even supposed to be a six-rotation player, but due to injuries I had to,” Terry said. “Newbie Raina didn’t think I would be anywhere near where I am now.”

“I’ve had to grow a lot in a lot of different ways,” she said. “I had to develop first as a player and then as a leader. [I’m] I just try to get the best out of everyone and that's thanks to my coaches. My coaches have really invested in my development on and off the field. All my success, very [has] have to do with them.