Nov. 10, 2006
Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS - - The Illinois volleyball team could not overcome a potent Minnesota offense at the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis, as the Golden Gophers topped the Illini, 3-0, on Friday night by game scores of 30-22, 30-24, 30-23. Freshman Ashley Edinger picked up 15 digs, but the Gophers proved to be too much as three Minnesota attackers finished with double-digit kills to seal the victory.
With the loss, Illinois fell to 14-11 overall and 5-10 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota improved to 18-7 overall and 12-3 in conference action.
Three Illini finished the match with eight kills on the night, including freshman outside hitter Kylie McCulley, right side hitter Stefanie Alde and middle blocker Meghan Macdonald. Macdonald also finished the night with six total blocks, four of those coming in game three. Edinger, who tallied a match high in digs, tossed in two aces, while McCulley led the Illini in the category with three on the night. Senior Beth Vrdsky grabbed nine digs in the effort and chipped in two aces in the loss.
In game one, the Illini allowed Minnesota to jump out to a 5-1 lead off early service-reception errors. Once the early-game jitters were shed, Illinois settled into the match and tied the affair at 6-6. With both teams trading points, ill-timed errors for the Orange and Blue allowed Minnesota to take a six-point lead at 25-18. McCulley, who carded six kills in the opening game, was not enough as UI hit a .091 in the opening game. Minnesota took advantage of Illinois' offensive slump, closing out game one by a score of 30-22 behind a .324 attack percentage.
In game two, the Fighting Illini came out strong to claim an early 6-3 lead. Minnesota, however, tied the game at 7-7 behind the arm of senior outside hitter Meghan Cumpston, who finished the night with 10 kills. Illinois, who struggled against a strong serving effort by Minnesota, allowed the Gophers to take a 16-11 advantage. With the Minnesota block turning up the pressure in game two, Illinois could not make a dent in the Gopher's lead en route to a game-two 30-24 loss. The score, however, did not reflect the fight and effort Illinois gave in game two, as they out-hit Minnesota .290 to .256. Passing breakdowns and miscues turned out to the be thorn in the side for the Orange and Blue, who played most of the latter half of the game out of system offensively.
In game three, Illinois looked to be turning things around as they took an early 2-0 lead off a service ace by Vrdsky and a quick Gopher attacking error. Minnesota, though they mishandled a number of tough serves by the Illini, kept the offensive pressure on as they jumped back in front at 10-6. Macdonald, who tallied four blocks in the final game alone, helped Illinois slow down the middle attack from the Golden Gophers, but a balanced attack from Minnesota kept them rolling at 20-15. With the Illini offensive effort falling short in the final points of the game, Minnesota closed out the match 3-0 with a 30-23 game-three victory.
Overall, the Illini matched the defensive pace set by one of the top defensive teams in the conference, equaling the team digs output by the Golden Gophers of 37 on the night. Sophomore Lizzie Bazzetta finished the night with 38 assists and two blocks, while middle blocker Rachel Henderson turned in six kills and one block in the outing. Redshirt sophomore Kayani Turner rounded out the Illini superlatives, tabbing seven kills and two blocks against the Gophers.
Illinois wraps up its Big Ten road trip when it takes on No. 10 Wisconsin on Saturday, Nov. 11, in Madison, Wis., at the Wisconsin Field House at 7 p.m.
