Oct. 24, 2009

Iowa City, iowa - Illinois kept its momentum going on Saturday night in Iowa City, winning its seventh straight and closing out the first half of the Big Ten season at 8-2 following a 25-23, 25-15, 25-22 victory over the Hawkeyes. The eighth-ranked Illini move to 16-3 overall ahead of road matches next weekend at Indiana and Purdue.

Junior All-American Laura DeBruler played at that level with a team-leading 17 kills, a .389 attack percentage, 13 digs and three blocks. It was the Illinois block that continues to be the difference. The Illini out-blocked the Hawkeyes 16-8 and their two opponents on the weekend by a combined 35-13. In conference play this season, Illinois is out-blocking its opponents 124-68.

Junior Johannah Bangert, who led the NCAA in blocks a year ago and is seventh so far in 2009, led the way with eight block assists, giving her 22 for the weekend. Sophomore right side hitter Michelle Bartsch added seven block assists while freshman Erin Johnson had one solo block and six block assists.

"Erin Johnson is really coming around," said head coach Kevin Hambly. "Blocking is the toughest thing for a freshman to learn and she had seven blocks tonight. Erin really believes she can play at this level now and I expect her to have a really good second half."

Illinois was dominant at times in victories over Wisconsin and Iowa this weekend, but what really stands out is coming through when behind. On Saturday, the Illini overcame five sets points in two different sets against Wisconsin to win both. On Saturday, the Illini overcame a 16-10 deficit in the first set thanks in part to seven team blocks and five kills from Laura DeBruler in that set. Illinois forced the Hawkeyes into a negative hitting percentage in the first two sets and to just a .025 percentage overall on the night.

The rally came with Bangert serving as Illinois scored five straight points, the last coming on a Bangert ace. Johnson and Bartsch combined for a block and Johnson put an overpass away in the surge. The Illini trailed 22-19 before scoring six of the final seven points. Bangert and setter Hillary Haen combined on a block and Bartsch and Bangert teamed on a stuff to cap the comeback.

"You have to like being in really competitive situations," Hambly said. "We like being in some tight sets and I actually think we're calmer when it's tight."

Ashley Edinger (15 digs) paced three Illini with double figure digs. Haen continues to have complete game with 31 assists, four blocks and nine digs while engineering an Illinois offense that rebounded to hit .226 in the second set and .333 in the third set. She is also spreading the ball a lot. Bartsch had nine kills on the night, McCulley eight and Johnson four.

"Last year we were definitely an outside hitting team, but I'm gaining confidence in setting the middles. As far as the outsides go, Kylie really brought a lot of energy tonight and Laura just reaches so higher than everybody else."

Aside from a late push in the third set by Iowa, Illinois dominated the final two sets. Illinois built leads of 12-5 and 19-10 in the second set. DeBruler hit .444 with five kills and Haen and Johnson each had three block assists. The Illini never trailed in the third set, pushing in front 20-12 before Iowa closed to within 23-21.

"Our energy level was great and I thought we executed pretty well," Hambly said. "I also thought we blocked exceptional. No matter how we do it, if you get two wins on the road, we're exited."