Oct. 5, 2001

Final Stats

Iowa City, Iowa - Illinois won its second conference match of the season tonight in dominating fashion, sweeping the Iowa Hawkeyes in straight games in Iowa City by the score of 30-27, 30-19, 30-22. With the victory, the Illini improve to 2-3 in Big Ten play and 8-4 overall on the year.

There were ten different lead changes in game one before the Illini pulled ahead 25-24 and held on for the win. In game two with Illinois already leading 19-13, the Orange and Blue went on a decisive eight point run. Defensive specialist served up seven of the points, and Lydia Gard had three kills in the rally. Up 2-0 at the intermission, the Illini came out focused and went on a similar run midway through game three to clinch the sweep.

Junior setter Betsy Eiserman had one of the best matches of her collegiate career, recording 41 assists and eight digs, and more importantly spreading the offense evenly across the Illini hitters. Outside hitters Shadia Haddad and Sue Webber led the way, each recording a team-high 11 kills. Middle blockers Gard and Lisa Argabright were right behind their teammates, tallying 10 kills each, as four UI players finished the match in double figures. Haddad had a season-high 18 digs to lead the way defensively, with Webber and Lauren Harks adding nine digs apiece.

Illinois' passing and defense was the telling story of the match, holding Iowa's offense to just .068 hitting for the match. The Illini outblocked the Hawkeyes 7-6 and outdug the hosts 59-53.

The Illini are in action tomorrow night, when they travel to Minneapolis, Minn. to face the 21st-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers at 7 p.m.