What started as a TikTok trend is now serving up some serious nostalgia in the volleyball world! You know the drill: dig up those old photos and poke a little fun at the poses, costumes, or whatever cringey moments from back in the day. But it’s all in good spirits—no one’s throwing shade at their younger selves here. The real fun is in sharing those laughs, and the kicker? You’ve got to sign your name on the pic to claim it. Just a few days ago, the Nebraska women’s volleyball team jumped on this nostalgia train, keeping it lighthearted and celebratory. But hold onto your knee pads—Illinois volleyball has added a twist to the game! Could this be the next big trend in the volleyball scene? You bet it is!

Illinois volleyball is on a high right now! On October 27, they pulled off a monumental win against Iowa, taking the match 3-1 on the Hawkeyes’ home turf. And here’s the kicker—the victory came right after a tough 3-0 loss to Nebraska on October 25. Shaking off the heartbreak, the Illini regrouped, stayed fierce, and clinched the win. Naturally, this kind of comeback called for a celebration, and they went for a viral twist: old Halloween pics with a signature for authenticity.

On October 28, Illinois volleyball’s X account gave fans a glimpse of the hilarity. Players like Lily Barry and Bianca May shared their costume snaps, while teammates joked around, poking fun at the old looks. At one point, a teammate laughed and told another, “You should be way more embarrassed by that,” commenting on her costume as a joker—cue the attempt to hide a guilty smile.

In the fun-filled moment, everyone had to disclose their old Halloween costume snaps, and those were bound to bring smiles to their faces. However, a few of them broke all hell at the party by showing their hilarious pictures. One such came from Christina Martinez Mundo. While Christina had her moment to flaunt her old Halloween costume picture, she showed up her childhood snap, posing as a mermaid. That avatar invited a flood of smiles on her teammates’ faces, who were standing around her. Even the graduate student herself couldn’t stop her laugh, commenting, “That’s why I got that tattoo.”

Later, Laynie Smith extended the fun by following the custom. However, her snap displayed her wearing a hat and sitting with the Halloween pumpkins. Meanwhile, the outside hitter signed her photo with a smile on her face. Overall, the moment stood to be a perfect celebration of the victory on Sunday night and the upcoming Halloween occasions. However, their rival Nebraska Huskers did it similarly, but in different shades. 

Illinois volleyball’s rivals are showing off their stars back in the day

In the last three weeks, Illinois volleyball maintained its joyride in the Big Ten volleyball. The squad grabbed victories in both the home arena and on the road. Yet, only one squad disrupted its party. The Fighting Illini’s results might have been better if it weren’t for the Nebraska Huskers. Why? In these last three weeks, the Big Orange had to face two losses, and both were from the Nebraska Huskers. And the No. 2 defeated Illinois on another ground—they followed the trend of the old picture before their opponent. 

On October 9, the X-handle of the Nebraska Huskers shared a similar snippet where the players lined up to share a few things in their school time pictures. The situation made the players embarrassed. But they felt the weight of nostalgia as well. That mixup made them emotional. As Lexi Rodriguez did. 

During her photo showcase, the skipper felt mixed emotions. She even said, “My ugly awkward phase one.” But the photo was from those days when a little Lexi had been making her inroads to volleyball fame, winning trophies for fun. The pose might’ve felt cringeworthy, but it brought back a wave of nostalgia—exactly what these throwback trends are all about! A reminder to cherish those moments tucked away in time. Will you join in on this trend? Let us know!