UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In the second Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge match of the trip, sixth-ranked Illinois made quick work of 21st-ranked Colorado in a three set sweep. Illinois moved to 4-1 on the campaign with the win, and notched the Fighting Illini program's 900th win with the victory from Rec Hall tonight. Colorado fell to 2-3 on the season after losing to Penn State the night prior.
"I thought we outmatched Colorado tonight," stated head coach Kevin Hambly. "You've got to be careful when you get this Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge, this is the first time we've won in it. These are good teams and that's what you want."
After the first set opened with back and forth play, Illinois jumped out to a 17-9 lead and never looked back to win the set 25-13. Out of a Colorado timeout, Allison Palmer served up the final five points of the set for the Fighting Illini unit. Illinois registered six blocks in the set with Jordyn Poulter recording a solo block. Jocelynn Birks and Katie Stadick each contributed on three blocks, while Ali Bastianelli tallied two. Danielle Davis recorded the first of Illinois' many aces in the match. On the offensive side, Illinois hit .429 as a unit.
After giving up the first point for the second set in a row, the Orange and Blue battled out to an 8-3 lead, which they would never relinquish. Despite a Colorado timeout, the run continued to a 19-9 advantage before the Orange and Blue would take the set 25-14. In the set, Illinois recorded a trio of aces with two coming by Brandi Donnelly, and another from Birks. Stadick came up with three block assists in addition to a pair by Michelle Strizak. Birks put down five kills in the frame, to go along with four by Strizak.
Colorado claimed the opening point again in the third set, but Birks put a quick end to Colorado's lead, tallying three-straight points for Illinois en route to a 5-1 advantage. After a Colorado timeout, the Buffs tied it at 5-5, but Illinois ran three quick points to put some distance between the two teams and ultimately took the deciding set by a score of 25-17. Ali Stark and Poulter both added an ace in the frame to up Illinois' tally to five on the match.
Illinois hit .361 as a unit in the victory, led by Strizak with 11 kills on 22 attempts for a .500 reading. Birks wasn't far behind with a mark of .429 off 15 kills on 28 attempts. Poulter, assisted on 30 of the 39 Illini kills in the contest.
"We passed pretty well, and Jordyn set well, and we have kids that can play ball," said Hambly of what he attributed Illinois' hitting success to. "We have weapons and I feel like we are starting to use them, so that's a big deal."
Donnelly led Illinois with 12 digs in the match, while Danielle Davis finished with seven and Birks tallied six.
Stadick finished with eight block assists in addition to four by Birks, Bastianelli and Poulter.
Illinois' next stop on the early season road trip is Wichita, Kansas, for the Shocker Volleyball Classic. On Friday, the Orange and Blue will play Kentucky followed by South Dakota State and Wichita State on Saturday.
