Oct. 29, 1999

MADISON, Wis. - The University of Illinois volleyball team dropped only its third conference match of the season this evening to the Wisconsin Badgers, three games to none, in the Field House on the campus of the University of Wisconsin. Illinois dropped game one, 15-5, game two, 15-11 and game three, 15-13. With the loss Illinois drops to 12-5 overall and 8-3 in the Big Ten.- With Minnesota?s win over Michigan State this evening, Illinois drops out of a tie with the Gophers for second place in the Big Ten and into third place.

"This was one of our poorest passing performances," Illinois Head Coach Don Hardin said. "Our ball control is the thing that has come and gone all season and it killed us tonight. We were overpassing right to their middles (Sherisa Livingston and Kelly Kennedy), which is suicidal because they are two of the best middles in the country."

Highlights in the match for the Illini included sophomore Shadia Haddad, who had 14 kills. Haddad has had double-digit kills in every match this year for Illinois. Senior Sara Sorrell, who collected eight kills in 23 swings, led the Illini with a .261 attack percentage.

Wisconsin was led by Jenny Maastricht who collected a match-high 17 kills and Kelly Kennedy, who hit .391. On the night Wisconsin outhit Illinois .282-.058 and outblocked the Illini, 16 to eight.

"Our last two games were well fought," Hardin continued. "We kept them tight in the last two and I still think that tonight was better than we have played here in the past."

Illinois, who defeated Wisconsin in three games earlier this year in Champaign, has not beaten Wisconsin in Madison since 1995.