MINNEAPOLIS — As with any coaching change, there were uncertain and scary times for the Illinois volleyball program in early 2017, when coach Kevin Hambly left for Stanford.
The players didn’t know who their coach would be for a few weeks. Eventually Illinois hired Chris Tamas, the former Nebraska assistant coach now in his second season at the school. Tamas still remembers his first team meeting.
"They were all kind of huddled around the table with somber looks on their faces," said Tamas, according to a story in The News-Gazette. "I said, 'Hey, if you guys stick with me, this is going to be a good ride.