Sept. 11, 2009

Box Score
PHOTO GALLERY

Champaign, Ill. - Another huge student crowd jammed the historic building on Fourth & Gregory for the annual `Stuff Huff' event Friday night. Illinois head coach Kevin Hambly made no bones about how valuable the orange clad fans were in a 25-16, 25-21, 25-21 victory over Cincinnati in the opening match of the State Farm Illini Classic. The crowd of 2,291 included 1,587 students and provided a high decibel reading at Huff in a rematch of last year's NCAA second round match.

Illinois, ranked 14th in the latest AVCA coaches' poll, hit an impressive .409 paced by 19 kills and a .441 attack percentage from junior All-American Laura DeBruler and tied a season-high with nine blocks. Right-side hitter Michelle Bartsch added nine kills with no hitting errors for a .409 percentage. The `Killer Bs', Bartsch and Johannah Bangert, provided a lethal combination in the front row. Bangert was in on eight of the Illini's nine blocks, teaming with Bartsch on six of those.

"Stuff Huff is one my favorite nights," DeBruler said. "We have a lot of fans who really enjoy it."

"I think the crowd had a lot to do with our win," Hambly said. "I can't imagine playing against it. There was a ton of energy which really put us over the top."

The defense carried to the back row where Illinois was aced just three times while holding a 42-36 advantage in digs, paced by 13 digs from senior libero Ashley Edinger.

"Despite the energy, we played calm and made adjustments when challenged," Hambly added. "I hope we can maintain it against two tough opponents tomorrow."

Illinois provided an all-out assault in the first set, but had to overcome multi-point deficits in sets two and three. Illinois made a conscious effort to clean up the attack errors and it showed in a big way. The Illini had just two errors in the first set and just eight for the match. DeBruler's numbers were indicative of her All-America status, providing an insane percentage for an outside.

Illinois outscored Cincinnati, 14-6 at one point in set one, scoring four points off the serve of Hillary Haen (39 assists, six digs) and three more off the serve of DeBruler to go up 19-9. DeBruler had seven kills and hit .636 in the opening set, while Bartsch set the tone early en route to four first-set kills and a .400 percentage.

At times, the Illini resembled the rally machine that they were in 2008, relying on a stingy defense and fortitude to push through for points. Cincinnati (4-4) served aggressive, but couldn't rattle Illinois in the serve-receive game. The Bearcats went for points at the net, but needed a .343 percentage in set two to salvage a .162 night, all the while providing a lone block for point in the entire match. Stephanie Niemer and Jordanne Scott paced Cincinnati with 10 kills apiece.

The second set was tight with neither team leading by more than two points until Illinois opened up a 24-21 advantage, using the arm of senior outside hitter Kylie McCully to score the final four points of the set, three on kills and one on a service ace.

Illinois put itself in a precarious position in the third set, falling behind 12-8 as Niemer and Missy Harpenau put some chinks in the Illinois defense. But the poised Illini kept rallies going, eventually turning a 16-13 deficit into a 21-17 advantage with an 8-1 run. McCulley served five of the points. Three emphatic kills from DeBruler and a tool of the block from Bartsch sent the large crowd home happy.

Illinois improves to 4-1 and meets both Illinois State (at 10 am) and 16th-ranked Saint Louis (at 7 pm) Saturday. The Billikens disposed of ISU in straight sets, in the opening match of the night, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18.