Sept. 7, 2002

Final Stats

Chicago, Ill. - The 21st-ranked Fighting Illini volleyball team responded from Friday night's disappointing loss to Loyola to defeat Northern Illinois in straight games today at the Loyola Adidas Invitational in Chicago. Illinois swept the Huskies by the score of 30-25, 30-24, 30-23. With the win, the Illini end a two-match losing streak and improve to 3-2 on the 2002 season.

Carrying the offensive load for the Illini were the left-side hitting duo of sophomore Jessica Belter and sophomore Melissa Vandrey. Belter recorded a match-high 14 kills, while Vandrey added 11 kills to also finish in double figures for the match.

Senior Sue Webber played brilliantly for the Illini, tallying nine kills on .333 hitting and adding a team-high nine kills. Webber also tallied a match-high three aces with her jump serve and provided solid passing throughout the match.

Illinois outblocked Northern Illinois 9-7 and held the Huskies to just .096 hitting for the match, also outdigging the Huskies 40-33. The Illini hit .243 in the match, led by junior Shelly O'Bryan's .429 attack percentage (4-1-7) and .600 hitting from senior setter Betsy Eiserman, who tallied three kills and had 29 assists.

Illinois plays its first home match of the season next weekend when the program hosts the State Farm Illini Classic at Huff Hall. Connecticut and Jacksonville State play at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 followed by Illinois vs. Arkansas State at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Sept. 14 the consolation match will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the championship at 8 p.m.