Sept. 16, 2000

Box Score

Champaign, IL - The Fighting Illini improved to 9-2 overall on the season after defeating Ball State (7-3) Saturday night at Huff Hall in the Championship of the 2000 State Farm Illini Classic. Illinois came back from a two game deficit to win by the score of 11-15, 12-15, 15-8, 15-8, 15-6.

Ball State raced out to a 9-3 lead in game one. Illinois made a run, cutting it to 12-11 at one point, but the Cardinals finished off the game with three consecutive points. Game two saw the score tied four different times, but Ball State again went on a 3-0 run at the end to win 15-12. After two games, Ball State was hitting .400 as a team, while holding Betsy Spicer to just only 12 attacks.

With the score tied 8-8 midway through game three, the Illini went on a tear, scoring seven unanswered points to take the game. Betsy Eiserman provided a spark off the bench, coming into takeover the setting duties.

"I am proud of Betsy," says Head Coach Don Hardin. "She came in to this year with high expectations of playing the setter position, and played extremely well tonight."

The Illini cruised to victories in both game four and five, winning 15-8 and 15-6 in the rally game. For the match, Shadia Haddad led the team with 28 kills, followed by tournament MVP Spicer with 20 kills.

"It is an honor to get the award, but it does not compare to coming back and winning this match," says Spicer. "We showed a lot of fight by coming back, and I'm so proud of our team."

The Illini will open their Big Ten season on September 22 at Iowa, followed by a road match at Minnesota on September 23.