BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Behind an energetic performance from senior setter Alexis Viliunas, the No. 18 Illinois volleyball team earned a 3-0 sweep of Indiana (27-25, 25-23, 25-19) on Friday night at University Gym.
With the win, the Illini improve to 13-7 and 4-5 in the Big Ten, while the Hoosiers fall to 12-9 and 2-7 in the conference.
"To make that comeback in the first set, it's a big deal," said head coach Kevin Hambly. "It's hard to do. Lex came in and turned around the entire energy of the match. She just got us playing and having fun and battling. We all know because we are around her all the time, but Lex is just a class human being. If I had to talk about her as a teammate, her and Jordyn - Jordyn's go-to is Lex. It's not because they are setters, it because they genuinely get along and work and that is a lot for a senior. Jordyn has been starting every match this year and to be that close with her, that's because Lex is a great teammate. I think it speaks volumes about who she is, but her to come in here and change the whole tide of the match, it was great to see."
The two teams went back and forth in the early goings of the match before the Hoosiers sprinted out to a 13-7 lead on five-straight points. The Hoosiers continued to build their lead when Viliunas was subbed in for starting setter Jordyn Poulter. Trailing by nine at 20-11, the Illini used a 9-2 run to mount a comeback and cut the deficit to two at 22-20. After trading points, IU earned a set point at 24-22, but a Jocelynn Birks kill followed by a block from Naya Crittenden and Katie Stadick evened the score at 24-24. With the set again tied at 25-25, Birks sealed the comeback with a kill, followed by teaming with Stadick for a set-winning block at 27-25.
It was another fast start for both teams in the second with several ties before the Illini jumped out to a 10-7 advantage. A Michelle Strizak kill pushed the lead to 17-12, but the Hoosiers would battle back to get within one at 21-20 late in the set. Leading by one at 23-22, Strizak set the stage for set point with her fifth kill of the period. An Illini service error closed the gap to 24-23, but the Hoosiers answered with their own service ace to give Illinois a 2-0 lead in the match.
Out of the break, the Illini jumped out quickly with the third set's first three points. IU evened the score with three-straight points of their own, but the Orange and Blue settled themselves before taking control at 14-7. Illinois pushed its lead to 18-10 with three-straight points on Julia Conard's serve and cruised to the third set win as Ali Bastianelli slammed home the winning point at 25-15.
As a team, Illinois hit .295 on the night, including a .387 mark in the third set, while holding the host to a .178 hitting percentage. UI also out-blocked the Hoosiers, 9-4, with six blocks coming in the opening set.
Birks led the Illini attack with 13 kills and six digs, while Stadick joined her in double figures with 10 kills on 17 attacks for a .529 hitting percentage. Stadick also contributed a team-high five blocks.
Viliunas, seeing her first action since Sept. 19 against UNLV, registered 28 assists, two kills and two blocks. Conard led the Illini with 11 digs, while Brandi Donnelly adding nine in the win.
The Illini will be back in action on Sunday when they take on No. 19 Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., at 12 p.m., on ESPN2.Â
