Aug. 26, 2006

Illinois-Winthrop Box Score
Illinois-UWM Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - In any sport chemistry is a key element to winning, but volleyball is a sport where that element is essential for any success. Just two days into the 2006 season, that chemistry is apparent for the Illinois volleyball team. On Saturday the Illini completed its 16th State Farm Illini Classic championship in 23 years with straight game victories over both Winthrop and UW-Milwaukee.

The 3-0 start is a testament to how well preseason training has gone. Of the seven starters in this weekend's matches, three are transfers and two more were playing different roles on the team a year ago. While there is still room for improvement, Illinois has set a foundation for what could be a surprising run through the 2006 campaign.

Vicki Brown, the tournament MVP, has proven to be worth the price of admission. Brown amazed Illini fans with her powerful swings from the middle all weekend, totaling 45 kills, nine blocks, and a .413 attack percentage in the three victories. Brown had 18 kills and a .444 hitting percentage in a dominating 30-21, 30-21, 30-18 victory over Winthrop in the afternoon session and followed that with an 11-kill, four-block, .625 percentage performance in the victory over UW-Milwaukee.

"We mentioned early in the season that she was a different animal this year," said Illinois head coach Don Hardin. "In previous matches, we haven't been able to see it. Today, and in this tournament. (setter) Lizzie (Bazzetta) and Vicki were unbelievable. Their connection was so fast, it's tough for an opposing team to stop."

"It's exciting because they are rewarding you for playing hard, so I'm honored to receive such an award," Brown said of the MVP honor. "In the same manner, I am not going to dwell on it as our team looks forward to next week."

Fellow All-Tournament team member Kayani Turner had 15 kills and a .407 attack percentage vs. Winthrop and 12 kills vs. UWM.

Ashley Edinger's jump serve has put opponents off guard in the early going. The freshman was also named to the team after leading Illinois in both digs (34) and aces (6) on the weekend. The other All-Tournament team members included Melissa David from UW-Milwaukee, Pohai Nu'uhiwa and Taryn Surbaugh from Winthrop, and MC Richmond from Illinois State.

After using a high attack percentage in two of the four games of Friday's win over Illinois State, the Illini used the block to their advantage in a straight games victory over Winthrop. Illinois had ten team blocks and nine service aces in the match. The Illini had 24 team digs and eight team blocks in the first two games in cruising to 30-21 wins in each of the first two games then hit .515 in dominating game three.

Beth Vrdsky tallied a career-high four aces, one of five Illinois players with at least one ace. The Illini defense held Winthrop to just a .072 hitting percentage for the match, including a .000 effort in game two.

Winthrop scored the first point of the match, after which the Illini never trailed. Five of Illinois' 10 blocks came in the second game. Brown led the way with one solo block and four block assists for the match followed by Turner (1 solo, 3 assists) and sophomore Rachel Henderson (three block assists). Senior Meghan Macdonald had a strong third game with five kills in six attempts for an .833 attack percentage. Junior Amy Palash had five kills without an error in 14 attempts for a .357 percentage.

Illinois had to fight from behind vs. UW-Milwaukee, although the Illini were also able to close the Panthers out in three games, 30-16, 30-27, 30-26. UWM took leads of 11-9 and 21-20 in the second game only to see Illinois battle back. Macdonald (7 kills, .417 hitting percentage) helped ignite the rally and Stephanie Alde's (six kills) shot down the line was the game clincher.

UW-Milwaukee had the momentum in the third game, bolting to a 19-16 advantage. Great ball control helped Illinois tie the game at 21. After a nick-and-tuck battle, Vrdsky closed out the match and the championship with a pair of aces.

The Illinois serving was a difference maker. The Illini had 15 aces, four from Bazzetta and three from Turner, to just eight service errors.

"For us to be able to compete in the Big Ten, we are going to have to keep them out of system," said Hardin on the serving success. "We have been working hard in practice and it's paying off in matches."

"We played our game in both matches today," said Bazzetta. "We took control of the match from the start and had the other teams on their heels."

In other matches on the day, UW-Milwaukee (1-2) downed Illinois State (0-3), 3-0 and Winthrop (2-1) came from two games down to defeat Illinois State, 3-2.