Nov. 29, 2002
Final Stats
Columbus, Ohio -
Illinois had a tough assignment tonight, traveling to Columbus to take on the hottest team in the Big Ten, the 20th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The Illini were unable to slow down the Buckeyes as Ohio State posted its seventh-consecutive victory with a 30-17, 30-27, 30-27 win over the Fighting Illini. With the loss, Illinois falls to 12-16 overall and 6-13 in Big Ten play, while OSU improves to 18-10 on the season and 12-7 in the conference.
Illinois was unable to slow down Ohio State's powerful offense, as the Buckeyes hit .321 for the match. Illinois meanwhile, could manage an attack percentage of just .078. Ohio State had 22 more kills than the Illini (55-33) and outdug the Illini by 20 (53-33).
Illini junior Lisa Argabright led the Illini on the evening, registering a team-high nine kills on .400 hitting. Argabright also tallied two service aces and had two blocks. Junior Melissa Vandrey had seven kills, while freshman Rachel VanMeter added six. Senior Sue Webber had a solid all-around match, contributing five kills, a team-high eight digs, four blocks and an ace for the Illini.
Ohio State setter Katie Virtue, the older sister of Illini sophomore Erin Virtue, led the Buckeye attack as OSU had three players finish in double figures, led by Stacey Gordon's match-high 15 kills. Suzie Stiling and Stephanie Higgins added 12 kills apiece, while Virtue tallied six kills in addition to her 43 assists.
"I have to congratulate Ohio State, they played extremely well," Illini Head Coach Don Hardin said. "I think that, offensively, they have the best team in the Big Ten and their offense was certainly impressive tonight.
"We played right with them in games two and three and those two games could have went either way, but I was disappointed with the way we came out and played sluggish in game one," Hardin added. "Lisa Argabright came in off the bench and provided a spark for us again, much like she did last weekend. Our team feeds off of her play and confidence; she's a difference-maker."
The Illini wrap up the 2002 volleyball season tomorrow night, facing the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington, Ind. Match time is set for 6 p.m. Central Time.
