Oct. 2, 2010

Box Score

Champaign, Ill. - The two remaining unbeaten teams in the Big Ten race squared off Saturday in Champaign and the 3,127 who packed Huff Hall on Dig Pink night saw the battle for sole possession of first place come down to the very end. The match that had many twist, turns, streaks and long rallies ended with No. 7 Illinois (12-2, 4-0) out-lasting No. 25 Northwestern (13-2, 3-1) in a five-setter that took 2:31 to complete by scores of 22-25, 25-19, 30-28, 21-25, 15-11.

"They are a tough team to play," setter Hillary Haen said. "They always come to Huff super prepared for us and bring their best. They fight the entire time, and they did it again."

Senior middle blocker Johannah Bangert had four blocks in the fifth and deciding set and a season-best 10 for the match and in the process established herself as Illinois' all-time career blocks leader with 565. That breaks the old mark of 562 held by legendary Illini Mary Eggers. Illinois had a season-high 16 blocks as a team. Senior Nicole Kump had four kills and four blocks while hitting .571.

"(Eggers) is special in Illinois volleyball history and it is pretty exciting to be up there with her," Bangert said of establishing the record.

"She is one of the better blockers to play in the NCAA," Illinois head coach Kevin Hambly said of Bangert. "The middle blocker is such a blue collar position that you have to love working hard and she does."

This marked the second straight match that one of Eggers' career records have fallen. Junior Laura DeBruler established the new career kills mark after tallying 26 kills in the victory over Wisconsin on Wednesday. DeBruler followed that up with 21 kills and 28 digs Saturday night vs. the Wildcats while junior Colleen Ward led the Illini with 22 kills overall to go along with 17 digs with junior Michelle Bartsch right behind with 18 kills and 13 digs. Freshman libero Jennifer Bonilla posted 27 digs a match after tallying the sixth most in school history (32) vs. Wisconsin.

Northwestern, who reached the national rankings for the first time since 1987, had its four-match Huff Hall win streak snapped last season and at times seemed primed to start another one. The Illini were in command in the first set, leading 22-18 before the Wildcats behind the service arm of Madalyn Shalter, scored the final seven points to steal the set.

"They are tough," Hambly said. "Northwestern is a very good defensive team and had a good plan against us."

Illinois has lost five first sets this season, but bounced back to win the match each time and Saturday was no exception. In fact the Illini have yet to lose a second-set this season. Illinois had nine of its 16 blocks in the first two sets, including four in that second set. The Illinois defense limited Northwestern to eight kills in set two as the Illini broke open a 14-14 score with a 5-1 run en route to winning the set.

The pivotal third set had 13 ties and six lead changes. The Illini staved off set point with a blistering swing by Ward for the kill to tie the score at 24-24 then was award the 25th point after a red card on the Northwestern bench. The back-and-forth-battle fittingly ended with Ward finding the floor on a cross-court winner as the Illini won the longest set of the season 30-28.

A determined Northwestern squad led most of the fourth set, hitting .270 with just two attack errors, setting the stage for the fifth set winner take all. Bangert teamed with Ward on a block that tied her for the career blocks mark and gave the Illini a 2-0 advantage then fittingly shared the net with her "Killer B" teammate Michelle Bartsch for the record-breaker that gave Illinois the lead at 4-3.

With Illinois leading 11-8, the Wildcats put forth yet another comeback with three straight points to tie it at 11, but Bangert got a quick set from setter Hillary Haen (63 assists, five blocks) for a kill to start a string of four straight points to secure the victory. One of the longest rallies of the night ended with Ward's 22nd kill.

On there being just one undefeated team after four matches of Big Ten play, Hambly said, "It speaks to the strength of the Big Ten, which is brutal. It is going to be a grind every night. I think we can expect a lot more four- and five-setters."

The Illini put their first-place standing on the line next weekend in road matches Michigan State (Oct. 8) and Michigan (Oct. 9).