CHAMPAIGN — Beth Prince broke away from Illinois volleyball's celebration of its Elite Eight victory on Saturday at Huff Hall to envelop former Illini Alexis Viliunas in a hug.
Work kept Viliunas from attending Friday's Sweet 16 match against Marquette, but nothing was going to keep her from the match that ultimately sent Illinois back to the Final Four for the first time since 2011.
Viliunas was standing courtside after the Illini dispatched Wisconsin in four sets alongside several other former Illinois standouts. Prince, a redshirt junior, along with seniors Ali Bastianelli and Jordyn Poulter — all freshmen when Viliunas was a senior — keep the former setter connected to the program.