Football and Basketball: Not the Only Illini Sports Worth Watching

By Alex Ortiz on August 13, 2014

 Photo via the Daily Illini

It is obvious that football reigns supreme in college athletics, and at almost every institution if it isn’t football it’s basketball. Illinois is certainly a basketball school, but there are a number of gems throughout the athletic department to pay attention to in 2014.

Both whole teams and individual players compete and succeed for the Illini year in and year out and they go relatively unnoticed, as is the case at most big-time athletic universities. So here we will list three groups of teams and/or player categories of “Need to Watch,” “Quality Competition” and “On the Rise.”

Need to Watch

Men’s Golf – One of the preeminent programs in all of NCAA golf, head coach Mike Small has coached this program to certainly the best team on campus. The teams made the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight year, one of only five schools with such a streak. The most amazing part of this team is that there was only one senior on the roster last season.

Women’s Soccer – Last year, Jannelle Flaws emerged out of seemingly nowhere to become one of the best forwards in the country with a team season record 23 goals. She’s back at full strength and a more experienced defensive unit that battled the best conference in women’s soccer to make it to the Sweet 16 last season, even without all-time great Vanessa DiBernardo on the team. Head coach Janet Rayfield is one of the best in the business and she can coach this team to another deep run in the NCAA Tournament this coming season, but their sights are set even higher than that.

Quality Competition

Volleyball – Another Sweet 16 team from last season and another perennial NCAA Tournament contender, the Kevin Hambly-led squad is poised at another run through a tough schedule to prove itself as one of the better programs in the nation. One of the more popular sports on campus will feature a roster very comfortable with itself as only two players are graduating. Liz McMahon is poised for another big season, especially since it is her senior year.

Baseball – It would be difficult and unfair to place the relative disappointment of 2014 on one player’s shoulders, or in this case left arm, but pitcher Kevin Duchene’s injury problems really put a dent in the team’s season. Now with their ace ready for a full season, everything can finally be put together.

On the Rise

Women’s Basketball – With just one senior leaving from last year, practically the entire team is in place with a whole season together under their belt. Consider that the team will enter this season with big-time recruit Chatrice White who should take over at center. Paired with solid sophomore Jacqui Grant at power forward, they will provide a formidable duo near the hoop. Head coach Matt Bollant seems to really be getting the ball rolling with his program and things appear to be looking up for them.

Women’s Golf – Following such a difficult 2012-13 campaign, last season was a substantial improvement from last season with the emergence of Stephanie Miller who made a big impression leading the team throughout the season as a freshman. The loss of senior Ember Schuldt will hurt, but seniors Samantha Postillion, Michelle Mayer and Jacqueline Calamaro will be there to pick up any slack. Head coach Renee Slone and company will also have the benefit of a brand new outdoor facility along with the diverse array of golf courses in the Champaign-Urbana area. Nothing but better things are on the horizon for these ladies.

While men’s basketball and football are consistently the big tickets in a college town, there are at least a few hidden gems in large athletic programs, almost without fail. Illinois has plenty to keep Illini fans entertained year-round.

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