Sept. 26, 2008

Final Stats

Bloomington, Ind. - In a match that had more strange twists and turns than a government bailout, 20th-ranked Illinois (10-2) outlasted Indiana (8-5) 18-25, 26-24, 25-22, 25-22 in the Big Ten opener in Bloomington.

Friday's night's match featured the top two kill leaders in the Big Ten this season in Indiana's Erica Short and Illinois' Laura DeBruler and while both figured prominently in the outcome, a combined 31 blocks, 16 by Illinois enabled a lot of runs from both teams and eventually was the deciding factor.

"It was big momentum match," said Illinois head coach Don Hardin. "In all of the Big Ten matches, everyone is going to want to protect home turf. We weren't ready out of the shoot, but our players rebounded and fought hard to pull out this win."

Perhaps the most deciding run came in set three. The Illini had seven total blocks in the set and built what seemed like a commanding 18-7 lead. The Hoosiers, however, used the block of their own to come all the way to tie the set at 21-21. But Illinois sophomore middle blocker Johannah Bangert came up big, accounting for the Illini's final four points of the set. First Bangert won a joust at the net with a putaway, then had a solo block on an attack from the back row, making it 23-21, Following an Indiana timeout, Bangert teamed with junior Kylie McCulley for a block, setting up set point. One point later, Bangert teamed with freshman Michelle Bartsch on the right side for the deciding point.

"The great thing about Jo is her blocking," Hardin said. "She stayed aggressive tonight and that was really the difference."

Such was just a slice of the ebb and flow of the match. Indiana controlled the first set by hitting .500 while the Illini managed just one block. The Illini had 15 blocks, however, during the final three sets. Bangert led the way with 11 block assists, while Bartsch had a career-best nine block assists to go along with one solo block.

Indiana middle blocker Ashley Benson had seven kills in the first set as the Hoosiers came out blazing, hitting .500 compared to just .129 for the Illini in the opening set. Illinois had just one lead at 2-1, while the Hoosiers built a 16-12 advantage and never looked back. Short, who finished with a match-high 25 kills, hit .545 in the first set with seven kills with her getting 11 of the 26 swings in that set. Benson came up big at the end of the set with a kill and ace to wrap up the set.

While Illinois had built a 4-1 in the second set, the Hoosiers were starting to take control again with an 8-2 run. Indiana built a 14-10 lead with seven of those 14 points coming from Short. The turning point in the second set, however, came following a couple of fine defensive play from Lizzie Bazzetta (21 assists), one of which had a ball go off her head, and saw the Illini keep the ball alive and send it over. Illinois had four blocks in the second set and McCulley (11 kills) had five kills as Illinois retook the lead at 20-19. The set was back and forth the rest of the way. At 24-24, Turner and Nelson came up with a key block on Short, then Short misfired on an attempt from the middle as the Illini claimed the set. Illinois slowed down the Hoosiers in that set. After hitting .500 in the first set, the Hoosiers hit just .109 thanks in part to a great block.

Short added four solo blocks and three blocks assists to go with her offensive numbers, but the Illini slowed down the Hoosiers overall. Indiana hit just .007 the rest of the way, including -.121 in the third set. Illinois (-.026) also hit negative in the third set.

DeBruler picked up momentum as the match went on, hitting cross-court shots, tip shots, bullets from the back row and precision shots down the line. She posted her 20th match with at least 20 kills with an even 20. Eight of those came in the fourth set. As if that fourth set would be any different, the Illini snagged the set and in turn the match from the Hoosiers. Short regained control and Indiana had three blocks early on in building a 15-11 lead. That's when the Illini rattled off six straight points, five off the serve of Hillary Haen (20 assists) to take a 17-16 lead. Bangert was in on three blocks and contributed a kill, while junior libero Ashley Edinger (16 digs) set two balls for assists. Fittingly Bartsch and Bangert teamed on the final point with a stuff block. Illinois hit .314 in the fourth set to narrowly out-hit Indiana .154-.150 for the match.

"This match went back and forth so many times," Hardin. "If we had to go to set five, it would have been scary on the road. This was gut check for us in set four and I'm happy with how we responded."

Illinois has an enormous challenge Saturday, traveling to top-ranked Penn State.