Vanderbilt (1-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. Illinois (0-, 0-1 Big Ten)
Sunday, Aug. 31 • 5 p.m.
Bridgestone Arena • Nashville, Tenn. • SEC Network
Live Stats • Match Notes
WEEKEND PREVIEW
• Vanderbilt volleyball’s historic season continues when the team heads down the road to Bridgestone Arena to face Illinois as part of the first-ever Sprouts’ Farmers Market Broadway Block Party at 5 p.m.
• The match will be the third of an SEC-Big Ten tripleheader and will air on SEC Network with Emily Ehman, Eric Frede and Mary Wise on the call
THE LAST TIME OUT
• The Commodores secured the reinstated program’s first win Friday night vs. Belmont at Match 1 presented by Vanderbilt Health
• Vandy’s first home match of the season was held outdoors in the middle of campus at Wyatt Lawn
• Vanderbilt’s facilities team oversaw construction of an outdoor sport court with bleacher seating for 2,400 people and a section for standing room only
• It was announced that there were 3,467 people in attendance at the match, which set a program attendance record
SERIES NOTES
• This is the first recorded meeting between Vanderbilt and Illinois
• Chris Tamas enters his ninth season as Illinois’ head coach, leading the Fighting Illini to five NCAA Tournaments
• Illinois added nine newcomers in the offseason including Auburn Tomkinson and Kenna Phelan, who transferred from Texas and Florida State, respectively
• Vanderbilt’s Sydney Conley and Illinois’ Phelan were teammates at Florida State in 2023
• In 2024, Illinois went 18-13 overall and 10-10 in conference play and advanced to the NCAA Tournament where it fell 3-1 to Northern Iowa in the first round
• Kayla Burbage, who did not play in 2024, but played in all 30 matches and ranked second on the team in kills per set with 2.10 and third on the squad with 223 total kills
DORES ON DEFENSE
• Libero Hailee Mack recorded double-digit digs in two straight matches, registering 28 vs. Kansas and 16 vs. Belmont
• The Dores’ defense stifled Belmont’s attacking efforts, limiting the Bruins to a hitting percentage of just .152
• At the net, Vandy recorded 10 blocks, with Jackie Moore accounting for six total blocks
CALI COMMODORE CONNECTION
• Moore and Isabella Bareford transferred to Vanderbilt from Loyola Marymount where both earned All-West Coast Conference honors during multiple seasons
• In 2023, Moore led the NCAA in hitting percentage at .454
• Vs. Belmont, Moore hit .333 off sets from Bareford, recording seven kills
• In the Dores’ match vs. Kansas, Moore tallied 15 kills off 25 attempts from Bareford, hitting at a .440 clip
FROM THE IVY LEAGUE TO THE SEC
• Chaney led the Dores with 20 kills in the team’s win over Belmont, extending her streak of six straight contests with double-digit kills, which dates back to the 2024 season
• While playing at Princeton, the junior was named the 2024 Ivy League Player of the Year and garnered first-team AVCA all-region and All-Ivy League recognition
• She led the conference in points (5.20) and kills (4.43) per set, was top 25 nationally in both categories and was ranked No. 1 in the Ivy League in points (494) and kills (421) during the 2024 season
ANIMASHAUN DOES IT ALL
• In her collegiate debut, Reese Animashaun posted a double-double with 18 kills and 11 digs
• The sophomore outside also added five assists and four blocks in the match against the Jayhawks
