Oct. 30, 2004
Final Stats
Ann Arbor, Mich. -
The Illini volleyball team might have grabbed their most crucial road win of the season tonight after defeating Michigan tonight in four games by the score of 16-30, 30-28, 31-29, 30-28. With the victory, Illinois improves to 15-6 on the season and 7-5 in the Big Ten. The Wolverines, meanwhile, fall to 15-8 overall and 5-7 in the conference.
Illinois hit .242 as a team, led by senior middle blocker junior outside hitter Rachel VanMeter's 22 kills on an attack percentage of .306. VanMeter followed up on her strong performance last of night of 24 kills at Michigan State to end the weekend with 46, while hitting over .300 both nights.
"Rachel fought all night and all weekend. I am really proud of the progress she has made," head coach Don Hardin said. "That is as mature a fighting effort and composed performance that I've ever seen from any player."
Junior Jessica Belter turned in a stellar performance for the Illini for the second night in a row. The right side hitter registered 20 kills on a team-high hitting percentage of .372. Junior Rasa Virsilaite just missed a double-double with nine kills and 15 digs to share the team lead with Lauren Harks who also added 15 digs. Meghan Macdonald had a solid night as she contributed seven kills on 12 swings for .333 hitting percentage.
Setter Stephanie Obermeier did a little bit of everything during the course of the match. The redshirt freshman had a great night dishing out 60 assists, along with one service ace and added seven digs. Senior Kathleen Bazzetta was in double figures in digs with 12.
"This was probably our best road win of the year so far," Hardin said. "That's a great sign for having three freshman on the court playing a lot like we do. This was a gut check, a fighting type of effort tonight. It wasn't just performance related, this was just gutting it out and digging in deep to challenge ourselves."
The key in the Illini's tight victories in games two through four may have been salvaged by the lack of service errors by the Orange and Blue, who only committed one compared to Michigan's costly eight. The Illini hung tough against one of the better blocking teams in the Big Ten only losing the battle 10-to-12. Despite the lose, the Wolverines outhit Illinois .337-to-.242.
The Illini return home to Huff Hall next weekend to host Wisconsin on Friday, Nov. 5 and Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 6. Both matches begin at 7 p.m. Central Time.
