Illini volleyball coach Kevin Hambly announced the additions of McKenna Kelsay and Danielle Davis to the team's incoming freshman class on Thursday.

The University of Illinois will hold its year-end banquet at 3 p.m. Sunday at the I Hotel in Champaign.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by calling Connie Peacock (217-367-3294) or Dave Chesnut (217-840-6657), or by emailing Chesnut at kiwaniandave@aol.com.

Tickets for members of the Courtsiders, the program's support group, cost $35.

Fans of the Illini women's basketball team undoubtedly are wondering how much damage was done by that first-round loss to Wisconsin last week in the Big Ten tournament.

The Illini volleyball team’s latest recruiting commitment could have joined her older sister at another Big Ten program.

McKenna Kelsay strongly considered it, too.

“That would have been really cool,” the Wheaton St. Francis senior said. “I’ve been to Michigan State a lot and I loved Michigan State. Definitely being able to play with Kristen was a big thing.”

Raise your hand if you thought before this season started that the Illini women's basketball team would be vying for a top four seed in the Big Ten tournament.

Thought so.

At least two Illini baseball games will be shown live on the Big Ten Network this season.

BTN announced its schedule of televised baseball games for the 2013 season Thursday, and the list includes Purdue at Illinois on Sunday, April 14, at 2 p.m; and Illinois at Ohio State on Sunday, April 21, at 11 a.m.

Two Illini pitchers were named to the Stopper of the Year Award watch list by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Redshirt sophomore right-hander Reid Roper and junior right-hander Ronnie Muck are among 75 pitchers on the initial watch list. The annual award is given to the NCAA's top relief pitcher in Division I.

The Big Ten Network today announced its wildcard selections for women's basketball broadcasts for two future dates.

BTN will carrry the Illinois at Purdue game on March 3, and has set the starting time at 3 p.m. CST.

Three Big Ten women's basketball players were named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 watch list, the sponsoring Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Tuesday.

Guard Tayler Hill of Ohio State and two Penn State guards -- Alex Bentley and Maggie Lucas -- made the cut.

Penn State is among six schools with multiple players on the midseason list.

Inquiring minds want to know: Which voters included Illinois on their ballot this week for The Associated Press women's basketball poll?