Illinois volleyball starter receives Big Ten preseason honors

SNS - In a testament to her remarkable talent and dedication, Illinois outside hitter Raina Terry has been named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors list, the league announced on Thursday. Terry stands out among the 18 student-athletes from the conference selected for this prestigious accolade, solidifying her place as one of the most formidable players in collegiate volleyball.

2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Raina Terry, Gr., OH, Illinois
Camryn Haworth, Sr., S, Indiana
Melani Shaffmaster, RS-Sr., S, Minnesota
MERRITT BEASON, Sr., OPP, Nebraska
Taylor Landfair, Sr., OH, Nebraska
Harper Murray, So., OH, Nebraska
Bergen Reilly, So., S, Nebraska
LEXI RODRIGUEZ, Sr., L, Nebraska
Emily Londot, Fifth-Year, OH/OPP, Ohio State
Mimi Colyer, Jr., OH, Oregon
JESS MRUZIK, Gr., OH, Penn State
Chloe Chicoine, So., OH, Purdue
Eva Hudson, Jr., OH, Purdue
Anna Dodson, Gr., MB, UCLA
Mia Tuaniga, Sr., S, USC
Carter Booth, Jr., MB, Wisconsin
Sarah Franklin, Sr., OH, Wisconsin
Anna Smrek, Sr., MB/OPP, Wisconsin

Unanimous selection listed in ALL CAPS
Terry concluded her senior season in spectacular fashion, leading the Big Ten with a staggering 618 total points and finishing third with 539 total kills. Her exceptional performance didn't stop there; she ranked sixth nationally with an impressive 4.69 kills per set and seventh in the country with 5.37 points per set. Within the conference, she placed second in both categories, highlighting her dominance on the court. By the end of 2023, these marks ranked eighth and ninth in the nation, respectively, underscoring her consistent excellence throughout the season.

In conference play alone, Terry's stats were equally impressive. She averaged 5.41 points per set, placing her second in the Big Ten, and 4.72 kills per set, securing the third spot in the league. Additionally, she showcased her versatility with a strong service game, ranking 10th in the conference with 0.37 aces per set and recording 28 service aces, the fifth-best total in the Big Ten.

Terry's ability to deliver in high-pressure situations was evident throughout the season. She recorded 10 matches with 20 or more kills, including seven against conference rivals, and notched three double-doubles. Her consistency was a driving force for the Illini, leading the team in kills in 28 of their 30 matches in 2023.

The Marengo, Ohio, native reached a significant milestone on Senior Night against Michigan, becoming the first player in the Big Ten to surpass 500 kills last season. In a standout performance against Ohio State, Terry recorded a career-high 28 kills in just four sets, showcasing her offensive prowess and ability to carry the team in crucial moments.

After an illustrious four-year career with the Illini, Terry ranks 10th all-time in program history with 1,634 career kills, nestled between AVCA All-America honorable mention Megan Cooney and 2020 Olympic gold medalist Michelle Bartsch-Hackley. Additionally, she stands fourth all-time with 164 career aces, cementing her legacy as one of the program's greats.

2024 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
1.  Nebraska
2.  Wisconsin
3.  Penn State
4.  Purdue
5.  Minnesota
6.  Oregon
7.  USC
8.  UCLA
9.  Ohio State
10. Indiana
11. Illinois
12. Michigan State
13. Washington
14. Maryland
15. Michigan
16. Northwestern
17. Rutgers
18. Iowa

On Stage: Soulja Boy Tell 'Em Big Draco coming to Canopy Club

URBANA - A stop on his The SODMG Tour promoting his latest album release Swag 6, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em Big Draco is set to perform at the Canopy Club on September 27 at 9 pm.

The Urbana show is in the middle of a five-day swing by Soulja Boy that starts in Mechanicsburg, PA, on Tuesday, September 24. The next night he will be in Louisville, followed by a quick stop in Nashville at the Main Stage before his Friday night performance at the Canopy Club. After that, he is on his way to Minneapolis before a two-day schedule break.

Born in Chicago in 1990, DeAndre Cortez Way, July 28, 1990, moved to Atlanta when he was six years old. At the age of 14, he moved to live with his father in Batesville, Mississippi, where he explored and developed his musical chops while building a network of music connections.

The now 34-year-old music veteran performer quickly became a leader, using grassroots social media and digital marketing strategies to grow his popularity. Thanks to several groundbreaking online promotional strategies he pioneered in 2004, Soulja Boy took the next step, moving back to Atlanta, booking live performances, and expanding his network and knowledge of the music business even further.

After hooking up with Atlanta producer Mr. Collipark, also known as DJ Smurf back in the day, he transitioned from a local wunderkind to a hip-hop household name. Under the roof of Interscope and Collipark Music imprint, Soulja Boy Tell Em rose to number one on the pop music charts for seven non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Crank That” is still remembered as a prominent dance song from the 2000s. The cut earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song in 2007. In addition to the Grammy Award nomination, Soulja Boy has earned three BET Awards and four Teen Choice Award nominations.

He also has a platinum album to his credit titled Souljaboytellem.com. Released on March 23, 2007, it peaked at #5 on Billboard 200 and sold 125,000 in the first week. The album was certified Platinum on June 16, 2007, and has sold over 1.5 million copies in the US & over 3.1 million copies worldwide as of May 2008.

Early tickets are on sale now, in advance for $25-29.50. Concertgoers can also buy tickets at the door for $35.


Upcoming Canopy Club shows
K-Squared Presents: CU in the 2000s - Sat, Aug 3 - Canopy Club - More Info

Reign of Z w/ Beautiful Skeletons - Fri, Aug 16 - Canopy Club - More Info

Deeper Purpose - Sat, Sep 7 - Canopy Club - More Info

Slacker University (Fall Fest) - Thu, Sep 12 - Canopy Club - More Info

PYGMALION 2024:
ROYEL OTIS w/ Friko - Thu, Sep 19 - Canopy Club - More Info

PYGMALION 2024
: X AMBASSADORS w/ Rosie Tucker - Fri, Sep 20 - Canopy Club - More Info

PYGMALION 2024
: CupcakKe w/ Queen Key - Sat, Sep 21 - Canopy Club - More Info

Soulja Boy - Fri, Sep 27 - Canopy Club - More Info

Emo Nite - Sat, Sep 28 - Canopy Club - More Info

Andy Frasco & The U.N. - Sun, Oct 6 - Canopy Club - More Info

MARAUDA - Thu, Oct 10 - Canopy Club - More Info

K-Pop Night - Fri, Oct 18 - Canopy Club - More Info

TVBOO - Thu, Nov 14 - Canopy Club - More Info

Riot Ten - Fri, Dec 6 - Canopy Club - More Info



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