University of Illinois
11-6, 2-4
Ohio State
16-2, 5-1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 25 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 3 |
| Illinois | 20 | 26 | 18 | 25 | 1 |
Illini Drop Four-Set Match to No. 9 Buckeyes
October 10, 2015 | Volleyball
Jocelynn Birks Earns Her Second-Straight Double Double with 18 Kills and 12 Digs
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Jocelynn Birks led the No. 13 Illinois volleyball team with her second-straight double-double, but it was not enough as the Illini fell to No. 9 Ohio State, 3-1, on Saturday night at Huff Hall. With the setback, UI moves to 11-6 (2-4 B1G) on the season, while the Buckeyes improve to 16-2 (5-1 B1G).
"It was a disappointing lost," said head coach Kevin Hambly. "The most disappointing thing is that our team is priding themselves on being defensive. The last four matches we haven't been very defensive or offensive really. When you defend, you have a chance. I will forever say that because I believe it. No matter what sport it is defense is key. You have to grind and give your heart and soul and right now we are not. We lost a little bit of our spirit and we have to get that back."
Birks led the way for the Illini on the night as she registered 18 kills and 12 digs for her 48th career double-double and her sixth of the season. It was also the redshirt-senior's fourth-straight 20-kill match and the 31st of her career.
"We had a lot less heart and will in this game," said Birks. "That was the really the big thing that we were lacking, and that shows up in our play. We don't take the extra step on a pass, or work to cover our teammates; it's hard to string points together when we aren't doing those extra little things. I think from when we played Wisconsin and Minnesota, there was a big change in last night's match. I think we felt content with what we figured out in that match, but then today I think we let a lot of that slip again. It's frustrating, but it's still early in the season and we'll figure it out."
After Ali Bastianelli and Naya Crittenden teamed up for an Illini block to open the scoring in set one, back-and-forth action knotted the score at 4-4. The Buckeyes then rattled off four-straight points for the 8-4 lead. IU closed within 10-8, but OSU used an 8-4 run to build an 18-12 advantage and went on for the 25-20 win in the first set.
The Bastianelli and Crittenden block again started off the set in the second period, before a Katie Stadick block opened five-straight points for an 8-3 IU lead. The home team continued its strong play, building their biggest lead of the set at 18-11. The Illini looked to close out the set, but OSU rallied even the set at 24-24. Another Bastianelli and Crittenden block, followed by a Birks kill tied the match at 1-1 with the 26-24 Illini win in the second.
Out of the break, the Buckeyes scored the first five points before an attacking error put UI on the board. Three-straight points from Stadick and Birks trimmed the deficit to two at 7-5, but a 13-7 run from the Buckeyes pushed the visitor's lead to 20-12. The Illini answered with back-to-back 3-0 mini runs and trailed 22-18, before the Buckeyes finished off the set with three-straight points, 25-18.
The Illini responded with the first four points of the fourth en route to building an 8-2 lead. OSU continued to battle as the visitors worked their way back for a 13-13 tie. The two teams traded points back-and-fourth throughout the remainder of the set until UI grabbed a two-point lead at 22-20 looking to force a fifth set. The Buckeyes would not let them as they evened the score at 25-25, before taking the next two points for a 27-25 set win and a four-set victory in the match.
Michelle Strizak and Stadick joined Birks in double figure kills with 16 and 10, respectively, while Stadick also contributed one solo block and three block assists.
Crittenden had her best outing of the season since Stanford as she posted seven kills and five block assists, while Julia Conard entered the starting line up tonight and notched a season-high 16 digs and two service aces.
Jordyn Poulter tallied 46 assists, Brandi Donnelly totaled a team-high 17 digs and Ali Bastianelli had four blocking assists for the Illini.
The Orange and Blue continues its four-match homestand next weekend as they welcome in Iowa on Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. CT and No. 4 Nebraska on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m., in Huff Hall.
