Oct. 12, 2001

Final Stats

Champaign, Ill. - The University of Illinois volleyball team earned a four-game victory over the Michigan Wolverines Friday evening in front of 2,474 fans at Huff Hall by the score of 30-18, 30-28, 27-30, 30-27. With the victory, Illinois improves to 10-5 overall, 3-4 in the Big Ten, while Michigan falls to 8-6, 4-3 in the conference.

Leading the way for the Illini was senior Shadia Haddad. Haddad had a season-high 22 kills and made it a double-double with 14 digs. Fellow senior Lydia Gard also finished in double figures in kills with 13, while adding a team-high six blocks. Gard hit a match-high .524, recording only two errors in 21 swings. Junior setter Betsy Eiserman ran the offense well and had a steady match, tallying 49 assists and a season-high 12 digs.

The Illini won game one in convincing fashion. Illinois grabbed its first lead at 8-7 and went on a five-point tear, forcing Michigan to call timeout. The Illini led the rest of the game and earned a 12-point victory. UI hit .341 as a team in the first game, compared to .143 for the Wolverines. Solid passing allowed Betsy Eiserman to set the middles, and Lydia Gard and Lisa Argabright responded with a combined eight kills on .583 hitting.

The story of game two was the amazing comeback by the Illini. Down 18-25, the Illini went on a 12-3 run to close out the game and earn the come from behind victory. The Illini first chipped off two points before a kill by Michigan increased the deficit to 20-26. The teams then traded points, and with the score 21-27 the Illini then rattled off four straight points on a pair of kills by Shadia Haddad, one kill by Gard, and a UM attack error. Michigan responded with a kill by Erin Moore to make it 25-28, but Illinois answered with the final five points of the game to earn the victory. Haddad had seven kills while Gard added four to lead the Illini in game two.

Illinois' comeback bid in game three fell short. Michigan came out strong, scoring the game's first seven points and the Illini were forced to play catch-up. Illinois trailed 17-23 when it went on another run, this time reeling off six consecutive points to tie it at 23-all. But the Wolverines regrouped and closed out the game to send the match into a fourth game.

The Illini closed out the match in game four, building an early 8-4 lead and never looking back. Illinois had as much as an eight point advantage in the fourth game (20-18), but the Wolverines clawed back, coming as close as two points before an attack error by UM's Jennifer Gandolph ended the match.

The Illini return to action tomorrow night, as they host the Michigan State Spartans at 7 p.m. at Huff Hall.