Oct. 7, 2000

Box Score

Columbus, Ohio - The Illinois volleyball team ran into a buzz-saw Saturday night in Columbus in the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ohio State, ranked No. 11 in the country and off to its best start in school history, was too much for the Illini as the Orange and Blue lost in straight games, 8-15, 5-15, 10-15. With the loss, Illinois moves to 10-7 overall and 1-5 in the Big Ten, while the Buckeyes keep their spot atop the conference standings with records of 16-0 overall and 6-0 in Big Ten play.

Illinois was led by senior middle blocker Betsy Spicer who registered 16 kills with just three errors in 32 swings, good for an attack percentage of .406. Spicer was the only Illini to finish in double-figures in kills, as Ohio State shut down the UI's outside hitters, junior Shadia Haddad and freshman Melissa Vandrey. The duo, who combined for 52 kills against Purdue on Wednesday night, tallied just a combined 14 kills and hit a combined .061.

Illinois as a team, hit just .185 compared to an impressive .439 team hitting percentage by the Buckeyes. Illinois out-blocked Ohio State 7-6 but the Buckeyes held the advantage in digs, 42-27.

The Illini take to the road again next weekend, with matches at Indiana on Friday, Oct. 13 and at Penn State on Saturday, Oct. 14.