Oct. 4, 2000

Box Score

West Lafayette, Indiana - The Illinois volleyball team got its first victory of the Big Ten season Wednesday night after holding on to defeat Purdue in five games by the score of 15-8, 15-12, 15-17, 13-15, 15-5. The Illini were led to victory by a number of players who turned in career best performances.

Leading the list of those key performers was senior middle blocker Betsy Spicer. Spicer tallied a new career high 27 kills, breaking her previous of high of 24 that she set earlier this season against New Hampshire. Spicer had just four errors in 51 total attempts, good for a sizzling attack percentage of .451. She registered a double-double by adding 16 digs and also had six blocks and served four aces.

Freshman Melissa Vandrey, playing in just her fourth collegiate match, had a double-double with career highs of 26 kills and 16 digs, and also chipped in with a career high six blocks. Fellow outside hitter Shadia Haddad mirrored Vandrey's totals with her own double-double of 26 kills and 16 digs.

The Illini hit an impressive .277 as a team, as sophomore setter Betsy Eiserman ran the offense well and distributed the ball evenly throughout the evening. She finished with a career high 83 assists.

It was a total team effort against Purdue, as every Illini player found a way to aid in the victory. Junior Sarah Pomeroy, a regular substitute into the lineup for back row support, shattered her career high of 15 digs with 20 against the Boilermakers. Junior defensive specialist Amber Lindner, who has been serving the ball well for the Illini as of late, continued that trend with four service aces, including two critical aces in the rally game.

The Illini seemed to be on its way to a quick victory after breaking out to a 9-0 lead in game one and a seven point advantage in game two and taking a 2-0 lead into the break. Illinois was one point away from ending the match with a 14-13 lead in the third game, but Purdue rallied and took games three and four to force the fifth game.

Playing in its sixth rally-score game of the season compared to just the second for Purdue, Illinois was calm with the pressure on, building up an early lead in the rally game and cruising to the win.

The Illini, now 10-6 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten, travel to Ohio State Saturday night to take on the Buckeyes at 6 p.m.