Nov. 17, 2000

Box Score

Madison, Wis. - The Illini volleyball team had a rough night in Madison on Friday in its final road match of the season, as the sixth-ranked and Big Ten co-leading Wisconsin Badgers beat the Illini in straight games 15-12, 15-7, 15-8. With the loss, Illinois falls to 13-16 overall and 4-14 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin meanwhile improves to 25-3 on the year and 15-2 in conference play.

Illinois pushed the Badgers in the opening game, hanging with the hosts point for point. Down by one, Wisconsin went on a five point run to take a 10-6 lead. But Illinois clawed back, scoring three unanswered points and forcing the Badgers to call a timeout with the score trimmed to 10-9. UW extended it to 12-9, only to have the Illini again pull within one at 12-11. However the Illini would get no closer as UW's Jenny Maastricht sealed the first game with a kill.

As the match wore on, Wisconsin began to overpower the Illini at the net. Illinois was eventually outhit .405-.256 for the match. Blocking and serving were also key factors in the contest, as the Badgers won the blocking battle 11-2 and had seven service aces compared to Illinois' two.

Leading the Illini attack was junior Shadia Haddad and senior Betsy Spicer. Haddad had a team-high 15 kills and hit .243 from the left side, continuing her improved play over the past few weeks. She tallied her 20th double-double of the season with 11 kills, the only Illini player to register double figures in digs. Spicer meanwhile hit a team-high .308 behind the strength of 13 kills and five errors in 26 swings.

The Badgers were led by their middle blocker Sherisa Livingston, who had a match-high 23 kills behind a match-high attack percentage of .543. Livingston also tallied eight blocks. Wisconsin outside hitter Jenny Maastricht tallied 16 kills and hit .278 on the night.

Illinois returns home for its final homestand of the 2000 season next weekend. The Illini take on the defending national champion Penn State Nittany Lions on Friday, Nov. 24 and host Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 25, which is also Senior Night. Illinois will honor its two seniors Betsy Spicer and Heather Wilson prior to the match against the Hoosiers.