Barnes and Terry ready to lead Illini volleyball

(WCIA) — Libero Caroline Barnes and outside hitter Raina Terry have developed a sixth sense in their three seasons together at Illinois.

“We’ve been playing with each other for so long, we have a very good communication and relationship on the court, we know each other very well, so it’s awesome when you have someone you’re that comfortable with, especially someone that can come and fire like Raina Terry,” said Barnes.

Terry enters year five in college, one last season donning the orange and blue.

“I don’t like thinking about it being my last year,” said Terry. “Sometimes I can get a little emotional, but I’m just going in, putting my nose down and getting to work. It’s my last one, so I’m gonna go out swinging.”

These veterans will play alongside in-state transfers like former EIU libero Christie Martinez Mundo, who finished fourth in the nation in digs last season on a Panther team that made its first NCAA tournament since 2001.

“For me it was just trying to level up and betting on myself,” said Martinez Mundo. “I wanted to see my potential grow, and I felt like, ‘Let’s just go in the portal and see what happens.”

Other portal additions boast Big Ten experience. Former Northwestern outside hitter Averie Hernandez is the niece of Illinois Men’s Tennis Coach Brad Dancer and chose to transfer closer to her hometown of Bloomington.

The Illini also added setters Raegen Reilly from South Dakota State and Vivian Campbell from Cincinnati.

Illinois opens the season on Friday, August 30 against the Bearcats at the Hampton Inn Invitational in Bowling Green, Ohio.

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