Clemson coach Jolene Jordan Hoover admits she will feel a little bit awkward when her team takes the court in this weekends Barker GMC Classic volleyball tournament at Redbird Arena. Hoover returns to Illinois State, where she was a 1985 Volleyball Magazine Honorable Mention All-American while playing for the Redbirds, then was an assistant coach from 1986 to 1989.
Its going to be interesting, said Hoover, who led the Redbirds to four straight NCAA Tournament bids from 1982 to 1985. I played in Horton, then coached at Redbird Arena my last year. The atmosphere in Horton was great, and I know its terrific at Redbird Arena. But Ive never been at Illinois State as the opponent.
Clemson begins the Barker GMC Classic with a 5 p.m. matchup with No. 7 Nebraska. Illinois State follows with a 7 p.m. first serve against Illinois. Nebraska and Illinois play at 10 a.m. Saturday, while Hoovers current team plays her alma mater at noon. The final session of the round-robin tournament has Illinois against Clemson at 5 p.m. and Illinois State vs. Nebraska at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
The versatile Bourbonnais native is the only player in Redbird history among the career leaders in set assists, blocks and service aces.
Hoovers Clemson teams are 215-113 in her 10 years there. She says theres nothing in the Atlantic Coast Conference that compares with Redbird Arena.
We have intimate places to play in the ACC, said Hoover. Our place (Jervey Gymnasium), for example, seats 2,000 and we can get some atmosphere. But we dont play anywhere quite like Redbird. Its terrific. Were looking forward to it, but Im glad were getting two chances (Thursday and Friday) for our team to practice before the tournament.
Hoovers husband, former Central Illinois businessman Dave Hoover, and their daughters, 11-year-old Hayley and 8-year-old Carley, will be driving to Normal for the tournament. Harold and Frances Jordan, Hoovers parents, and possibly some other relatives and friends will make the drive from Bourbonnais. She also hopes to see a few teammates as well.
Her last trip to Illinois State was in February for the Female Letterwinners Celebration, as Hoover and some 500 other women former student-athletes were given their varsity-I letters from ISU.
That was a great experience, said Hoover. Im sure at least eight or 10 people I played with at Illinois State were there and the whole thing was wonderful. I really enjoyed my time at Illinois State. A lot of us did.
Redbird fans will have another chance to meet the Birds at the annual First Serve Luncheon at noon, Friday at the Radisson Hotel in Bloomington. The luncheon will feature players and coaches, including Hoover, from all four teams participating in the Barker GMC Classic. Tickets are $10 per person and available by calling The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
