CHICAGO — During the first day of Big Ten media day, Illinois volleyball coach Chris Tamas was straightforward about the difficult end to the 2025 season. “It eats at my soul,” he admitted. The Illini stumbled to a 1-11 record in their final 12 matches of the year, ending their season with a 13-16 overall mark that left them outside the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in six years. Seven of those final losses came by sweeps, including six matches against teams ranked among the nation’s best.
Tamas attributed the poor stretch to a combination of inexperience and injuries that popped up late in the year. Just three players — Averie Hernandez, Kayla Burbage and Ashlyn Philpot — remained from the previous season's core lineup. The rest were newcomers, with Florida State transfer Kenna Phelan stepping into the setter role and Taylor de Boer, returning to full health, taking over at outside hitter. The lack of continuity and time to adapt was a visible challenge throughout the season.
Tamas focuses on small details
Instead of making dramatic changes, Tamas is emphasizing tiny but crucial adjustments. “If you look at our set scores, we were real close in a lot of sets,” he noted. He believes that minor improvements — like making one more point on serve or hitting a cleaner second contact — could be the difference in tight matches. The coach is clear: the 2025 season's struggles don't mean a complete rebuild is needed. He expects his team to carry forward the lessons learned in spring training, now entering the summer preparations for the 2026 campaign.
Senior Vivian Campbell, who splits time as a backup setter and part-time libero, described the training focus as consistent and driven. “We came off a great spring and kept the energy going in the summer,” she said. Illinois has 11 returning players and six newcomers, including Tennessee transfer Paityn Chapman, now expected to be a key addition. The roster is shaping up to have more depth than in the past.
New faces strengthen defense
The Illini added significant defensive reinforcements to go with their offensive potential. Ukrainian Kristina Starostenko, who has spent two seasons playing professionally in France, joins Lindsay Oldendorf at middle blocker, another transfer from Northern Iowa. San Jose State transfer Talita Goncalves adds more versatility in the backcourt, offering another defensive specialist option.
Phelan, the team's incoming setter, believes the spring season helped the group find their rhythm. Freshmen Maya Harris and Madi Miles have already stood out during summer practices, showing promise as new offensive threats.
Intense competition within the team
With an exhibition game scheduled for August 16 against Bradley and the season opener set for August 28 at home against Cincinnati, Tamas is now under pressure to finalize his starting lineup. “It's very competitive in the gym right now,” he said. The challenge is more than just talent — it’s about finding the right combinations and roles that will lead to success.
Tamas is entering his 10th year with the Illini and is still under contract through the 2028 season. While he's ruled out sweeping changes, he is focused on building continuity. His leadership and the new-look roster may yet redefine the team's identity as the 2026 season approaches.
The summer training has been intense, with players working to sharpen their focus and adapt to new roles. Tamas’s emphasis on small improvements, along with the arrival of key transfers, has built anticipation for what could be a turning point for Illinois volleyball. The coaching staff knows it won’t be easy — but the pieces are in place to begin the climb back to competitiveness.