Jeff Huth spent months researching how much Illinois has spent on recruiting in recent years. He found that across the board, the Illini are major players on the recruiting scene.

CHAMPAIGN – If you haven't seen Laura DeBruler, the slam-bang kill-shot artist from Downers Grove, you'll get your last chance Friday and maybe Saturday at Huff Hall.

DEERFIELD – Rachael White, the 10th-ranked high school senior in the nation, has orally committed to the Illinois women's tennis team.

The 2006 IHSA state singles champion selected the UI on Monday after making an official campus visit last weekend. White, who attends Deerfield High, said she also considered scholarship offers from Florida State, Arizona State, Clemson and North Carolina.

URBANA – Women's soccer isn't the only Big Ten sport abandoning its conference tournament.

A new-look Big Ten softball schedule starting in 2009 will not include a postseason event.

CHAMPAIGN – In the days leading up to Northwestern's visit to Huff Hall on Friday night, Don Hardin insisted the scrappy and dangerous Wildcats had no business being 0-6 in the Big Ten.

Turns out the Illinois volleyball coach was right. Northwestern's search for its elusive first conference win came to an end at the expense of a mistake-prone Illini team.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Top-ranked Penn State withstood an early Illinois push to stretch its winning streak to 39 with a 25-16, 25-19, 25-12 win Saturday.

News-Gazette staff writer Jeff Huth reviews and previews all things Illinois:

CHAMPAIGN – Illinois coach Terri Sullivan announced five signees to her incoming freshman class Friday, bringing to 10 the number of new players for next season.