Sept. 17, 2005

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - Tournament MVP Olaya Pazo had 17 kills to pace Rice to a 30-26, 30-26, 32-30 victory over Illinois in the championship match of the 22nd Annual State Farm Illini Classic. The Illini, which have been hit by a rash of injuries, could not overcome them on Saturday night as someone other than Illinois won the tournament for just the seventh time in the tournament's existence. Eastern Illinois took the consolation match, 30-27, 30-23, 30-28.

All three games of the championship match were competitive. Rice overcame a 19-12 deficit in the third game and staved off two Illinois game points at 29-27 and 29-28. All-tournament honorees Tessa Kuykendall and Kristina Hoban connected on a block with the third game tied at 30-30 and the Illini had an attacking error at match point for the Owls.

Illinois middle blockers junior Meghan Macdonald and sophomore Vicki Brown were each rewarded with their efforts with spots on the seven player all-tournament team, the first such honors by either in their careers. Macdonald followed up a career-high 20 kills on Friday in the win over Eastern Illinois with a nine-kill performance while hitting .400 for the evening vs. Rice. Illinois had a combined 17 blocks for the tournament, including nine blocks vs. Rice. Macdonald had two solo blocks and three block assists on Saturday.

Brown, meanwhile, put up double digit kills on both nights with 12 kills vs. EIU and 10 against Rice. She added one solo block and five block assists on Saturday.

Illinois had leads in all three games, jumping to a 9-4 advantage in game one thanks to a trio of Macdonald kills. Rice took the lead for good at 14-13, but never led by more than four points.

The Illini jumped to a 12-9 advantage in the second game. Rice took an 18-17 lead before the Illini tied the score at 24. Freshman Lizzie Bazzetta, who got the start at outside hitter, had a solid night and was instrumental in keeping Illini in game two. Bazzetta finished the night with four kills in seven swings (.429) and a career best nine digs.

Illinois came up on fire in the third game, jumping to a 6-2 lead. Vicki Brown had three straight kills as Illinois extended its lead to what seemed like a commanding 19-12 cushion. Pazo and Hoban, however, came out swinging and helped propel the Owls to the comeback victory.

"The players who played out of their regular position did a great job," said Illinois Head Coach Don Hardin. "I was especially proud of Lizzie. For her to come into that spot as a freshman and have to fill in that role and be our top outside hitter is impressive."

"I think we gained experience," said libero Beth Vrdsky, who had a team-high 15 digs. "We'll bounce back from this."

Illinois closes its non-conference season 9-2 and open Big Ten play next weekend at Ohio State and Penn State.