CHAMPAIGN — The year was 1987, and then-Illinois junior and Illini Pride member Thomas Durbin was tasked with creating an "Orange Krush for volleyball."
So Durbin had 50 T-shirts printed, garnered support from a few sponsors, and set up in the Kenney Gym stands behind the opposing team's bench.
The Spikers student section, which is now called Spike Squad, was born. It turned out to be a perfect time to start the group — Mike Hebert's team made the next two Final Fours and won two Big Ten titles.
"It was an easy sell," Durbin said.