Nov. 1, 2002

Final Stats

Champaign, Ill. - The Illini volleyball team gave 7th-ranked Minnesota all it could handle tonight in front of 1,494 fans at Huff hall. But Illinois' upset bid fell short as the Illini lost in four games by the score of 30-24, 16-30, 26-30, 33-35. With the loss, Illinois falls to 9-11 on the season and 3-8 in the conference. Minnesota meanwhile improves to 23-3 overall and remains in first place in the Big Ten with a 10-1 league mark.

Illinois started out on the right foot, taking game one from the Gophers. Illinois hit .360 as a team in the first game and featured a balanced attack as Jessica Belter, Shelly O'Bryan and Sue Webber each tallied three kills. The Illini also outblocked Minnesota 4-1 in the first game.

Illinois could not carry the momentum over into the second game, as Minnesota jumped out early and ran away with the win. With the Gophers leading 21-15, they then closed out the game on a 9-1 run. Minnesota hit .471 as a team and registered eight team blocks in the game. Illinois committed 14 attack errors and was held to -.308 hitting.

The Illini came out rejuvenated after the intermission and battled Minnesota play-for-play in game three. Illinois trailed by just two points (24-26) late in the game when the Gophers went on a 3-0 run on kills by Trisha Bratford and Erin Martin sandwiched in between a hitting error by Illinois' Belter. Down 24-29, the Illini were able to hold off game-point for two plays before Minnesota notched the final point to go up 2-games-to-1.

Illinois fans were treated to quite an intense and entertaining show in game four, as both teams traded points and the momentum continued to shift back and forth between the Illini and the Gophers. Neither team could slow down the opponent, as Illinois hit .325 in the final game, while the Gophers hit .341. Minnesota had its first match-point opportunity at 29-28, but Erin Martin committed a service error, tying it at 29-all. The Illini then scored after an attack error by Cassie Busse, giving the hosts its first game-point at 30-29. But the Gophers answered on a kill by Trisha Bratford making the score 30-30. Bratford followed with an error on the next play, giving Illinois its second game point at 31-30. Illinois' Rachel VanMeter served into the net, tying the score again at 31-all. Minnesota then gained its second match-point opportunity after setter Betsy Eiserman was called for a double contact. But Illinois answered on a kill by Jessica Belter. With the score tied at 32, Webber committed a service error, giving the visitors match-point for the third time. This time it was Eiserman for the Illini, winning a joust to notch the score at 33-all. A kill by Erin Martin gave Minnesota its fourth match-point and finally the Gophers were able to capitalize with a kills by Trisha Bratford to make the final score 35-33 in game four.

Illinois was outhit by Minnesota .321-to-.152 on the evening and outblocked 19-11. Leading the way for the Illini was senior Sue Webber (16 kills on .333 hitting) and junior Shelly O'Bryan (11 kills on .320 hitting with a career-high eight blocks). Betsy Eiserman added six kills on .500 hitting with 44 assists. The Illini were without the services of junior middle blocker Lisa Argabright, who has mononucleosis and is currently unable to play.

Illinois returns to action tomorrow night, facing Iowa (8-13, 2-9) at 7 p.m. at Huff Hall.