Oct. 27, 2007

Box Score

Bloomington, Ind. - Freshman outside hitter Laura DeBruler had 23 kills and senior middle blocker Vicki Brown hit .550 with 14 kills as Illinois held off Indiana for a 30-26, 30-26, 26-30, 30-27 victory in Bloomington Saturday night. The win marked the sixth straight road victory for Illinois, all in conference play, and moves the Illini into a tie for third in the league in a tight pack in the middle of the Big Ten standings.

Illinois improves to 6-6 in the Big Ten and 14-8 overall. Indiana falls to 5-7 in the league and 14-10 overall. With still eight matches left in conference play, the Illini are tied with Purdue for third in conference and hold a one game lead over a gaggle of six teams -- Minnesota, Northwestern, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern, all of which are 5-7. Only Penn State (12-0), Wisconsin (11-1) and Iowa (1-11) are not in that mix of teams.

All four games with Indiana went down to the wire with each game tied at 26. Game four saw the Illini overcome an early 9-3 deficit and rally to claim the game and the match.

Brown was especially tough in the fourth game with seven kills in as many attacks for a perfect 1.000 percentage and four blocks. DeBruler added seven kills in 15 attacks as the Illini hit .300 for that game and .295 for the match.

"We were just telling each other that we were not going to lose this match or this fourth game," Brown said. "To turn it around, we started executing and playing our game."

"Vicki just took the match over tonight at the end," head coach Don Hardin said. "In games three and four, Vicki just came alive."

Illinois used freshman setter Hillary Haen for the second straight match and the freshman was cool under pressure in helping the Illini pull it out in the end. Haen had a double-double with 60 assists and 12 digs.

"I also think tonight was a really good illustration of how well the freshman setter Hillary Haen is distributing the ball," Hardin added "She has really come together in the last two matches and gotten key road wins for us."

Four Illinois players reached double figures in kills. Senior right side hitter Stefanie Alde and freshman middle Johannah Bangert added 13 and 11 kills, respectively.

While Illinois played to its strengths - hitting (a .295 to .195 advantage) and digging (64-50 advantage), they didn't let the Hoosiers get the block going as was the case for opponents last week. Indiana held just an 11-8 edge in blocks while out-acing the Illini 10-2.

Sophomore libero Ashley Edinger led three players in double figures in digs with 20 followed by freshman Lea Zarytsky (13) and Haen (12).

The weekend also the return of sophomore Kylie McCulley, who had missed seven weeks with a stress fracture in her foot. McCulley had nine kills while hitting .217 after collecting 12 kills in Friday's win at Purdue.

"Our team identity is to stay composed and play our game at all times," Brown said. "I think tonight we just kept telling ourselves that we were not going to lose. We stay calmed and light hearted so that we could stay focused."

"Now that we have returned to .500 (in the Big Ten), we can definitely move forward from here," Hardin said.

That movement starts Friday and Saturday with home matches against Northwestern and Michigan State. Illinois is going to try to take its 6-1 road conference record and push for it to rub off in front of the home fans.