CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For the first time in conference history, the Big Ten will hold Volleyball Media Days, consisting of players and head coaches from all 14 conference teams.
The inaugural two-day event is the first in-person preseason media session for collegiate volleyball, a move redshirt senior setter Diana Brown calls “a step in the right direction.”
“I have always thought that volleyball deserved more attention,” Brown said. “On a big stage, we can compete, and people want to watch it. And so to have the media day be expanded to volleyball, I think that it’s a step in the right direction. I don’t want to sound snooty and everything, but I think we deserve more.”
Brown and senior middle blocker Kennedy Collins have the distinct honor of being the first Illinois student-athletes to represent their team and school at Media Days alongside head coach Chris Tamas.
Tamas enters his sixth season at the helm at Illinois and has guided the Illini to four NCAA tournament appearances, including a Final Four berth in 2018. Despite losing first-team All-Big Ten standout Megan Cooney and libero Taylor Kuper, the Illini are geared to return a strong roster heading into 2022.
Awesome to work for a conference that believes in the advancement in our sport and in women’s athletics. This is HUGE! https://t.co/mjyztD66zr
— Chris Tamas (@coachtamas) June 24, 2022
Collins put together a career-best season in 2021, recording 277 kills, 13 service aces, 18 solo blocks, and 126 total blocks to go with a .336 hitting percentage. In her fourth season in the orange and blue, Collins sees it as an incredible opportunity to be able to represent the Illini on a bigger stage.
“I’m very excited to represent Illinois. I wouldn’t want to represent any other school,” Collins said. “Just being able to be one of the first ones to go to this media day means a lot to me, and I’m very excited to represent Illinois, just because we are a great school and a great program, and everyone around me is great. It just makes it even easier for me to want to represent us.”
Brown also set new career highs in multiple areas, registering 28 service aces, nearly 1,300 assists, 300 digs, six solo blocks, 73 total blocks and a .302 hitting…
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