University of Illinois
6-0
#21 Dayton
4-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton | 25 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 12 | 2 |
| Illinois | 18 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
A Classic Finish at Huff
September 3, 2011 | Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2011
Houston Box Score | Dayton Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - It was fitting on Labor Day weekend that the Illini would need to work a little harder and dig a little deeper. On a steamy couple of days at Huff Hall, No. 7 Illinois wrapped up its 21st State Farm Illini Classic in the tournament's 28-year history, including its sixth straight, but it was anything but easy.
For the third time in the last eight years, the championship match against a ranked opponent went five sets and for the third time Illinois claimed the victory. Spotting 21st-ranked Dayton (4-2) a two-set advantage, the Illini stormed back for an 18-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-12 victory in a match that didn't end until nearly 11 pm. The victory coupled with a four-set triumph over Houston in the morning moves Illinois' record to 61-7 all-time at the Illini Classic and keeps the Illini a perfect 6-0 on the young season.
The Illini battled back from down 2-1 against No. 1 USC to win in 2004 and 2-0 down to No. 11 Oregon to take the 2008 title tilt in five sets. Saturday night's match also marked the third time since 2006 that Dayton and Illinois have gone the distance, but the first time Illinois has come out on top.
"I thought it was a gutsy performance," Illinois head coach Kevin Hambly said. "(After the intermission) we picked up our energy level and played with more passion and heart."
Senior Michelle Bartsch earned tournament MVP honors for the second straight tournament after an incredible all-around weekend, totaling 64 kills (4.92 per set) and 59 digs (4.54) per set while hitting .273. Colleen Ward (49 kills, 42 digs) and Erin Johnson (32 kills, 11 blocks, .324 attack percentage) joined Bartsch on the all-tournament team.
On Friday, Bartsch posted just the third 20-20 performance in nine years. Saturday Bartsch had her second such night in a row with 24 kills and 20 digs vs. Dayton and despite sitting out much of the third set against Houston, wound up with 19 kills and 16 digs vs. the Cougars.
The difference in the final three sets was slowing down a Dayton attack that had scorched Illinois to the tune of .381 and .444 in those first two sets while committing just two errors.
Dayton's Rachel Krabacher, who finished the match with 28 kills, was potent in the first two sets against Illinois with 13 kills and a .345 attack percentage. Krabacher, Dayton setter Samantha Selsky, Houston's Lucy Charuk, and Tennessee's Kelsey Robinson rounded out the all-tournament team.
"We were able to close our block and at least get some more touches at the net," Bartsch said. "That enabled our defense to make plays."
With a solid defense slowing down the Flyer offense, the Illini were able to go on the attack. Setter Annie Luhrsen, who had 68 assists on the match, found not only the outside threats of Bartsch and Ward (21 kills, .327 vs. Dayton), but got the middles involved. Johnson had 13 kills while hitting .407. Freshman Anna Dorn hit .529 with 10 kills and four blocks.
"I though Annie set great," Hambly said. "We got her in a nice rhythm. I just through that we started to find our passion and found a way to run our offense. I think we need to play better defense and we will. I feel good about how we ended. I feel like we learned a lot."
Illinois trailed just once in the final three sets against Dayton and that was 1-0 in the fifth. The Illini went in front 18-13 in the third, 10-4 in the fourth and 10-6 in the fifth before holding off the Flyers in each set.
Against Houston, the Illini dominated the first set, keeping Houston without a kill until late in the set. The Cougars finished the set with just two kills and nine errors for a -.212 attack percentage.
Houston responded by proving to be a tough out. The Illini and Cougars hit .351 and .355, respectively, in the second set as Illinois held on for a 25-21 victory. Illinois had match point the third set, but Houston scored three straight points to win 26-24.
Jazmine Orozco keyed a run midway through set four to give Illinois a more comfortable margin. Down 13-12, Orozco served six straight points, including three straight on aces as Illinois went up 18-13. Orozco finished with a career-best four aces and led the team with 17 digs.
Nationally, Illinois figures to move up in the rankings, given that the third, fourth and fifth-ranked teams all went down and the Illini, despite some adversity, managed to stay unblemished. Next up is a trip to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where Illinois will face MTSU, Cal Poly and Tulsa in the final non-conference road matches of the year.
