COLUMBUS, OHIO – After quick start to the match, the No. 16 Fighting Illini volleyball could not find its rhythm as Illinois' four-match winning streak was snapped by No. 14 Ohio State with the Buckeyes earning a 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-23) win on Wednesday night (Nov. 11) in St. John Arena.
With the setback, the Illini drop to 17-9 and 8-7 in the Big Ten, while the Buckeyes improve to 21-6 and 10-5 in league standings.
The Illini sprinted out of the gate as they scored the first-four points of the match en route to building a 9-1 lead. Katie Stadick's first ace of the season gave UI a 12-4 lead and forced the Buckeyes to call their second timeout of the set. Back-to-back kills brought the home team within 15-9, but a Naya Crittenden kill slowed the OSU momentum. Leading 20-15, the Illini put together four-straight points to set up set point at 24-15 before a Buckeye attack error gave the Illini the 25-16 set one win.
It was a different story in set two as the two teams traded points in the early goings. Leading by two at 9-7, the Buckeyes then went on a 12-3 run to build a 21-10 advantage. Three-straight Illini points cut into the lead to 21-13, but three quick points gave OSU set point at 24-15. The Illini would fight off two set points before OSU's Elizabeth Campbell finished off a kill for the 25-17 win to even the match at 1-1.
It was another quick start for the Buckeyes in set three as they home team build an early 8-3 lead before stretching it out to 17-10. A mini 4-1 run from the Illini brought UI within 18-14, but back and forth action pushed the score to 22-18 in favor of OSU. Three-straight Buckeye kills then sealed the 25-18 win in set three for OSU.
Down 2-1 in the match, the Illini came out focused in the fourth and grabbed a 7-3 lead. After the Buckeyes closed to within 8-6, the Orange and Blue used three-straight kills to stretch their advantage 11-6. The Buckeyes battled back to knot the score at 18-18, before earning their first lead of the set at 20-19. The two teams traded blows with ties at 20, 21, 22 and 23, but back-to-back OSU points on a Taylor Sandbothe kill and a Buckeye block sent the home team to the 3-1 victory.
Redshirt-senior Jocelynn Birks led the Illini attack with 16 kills, with Stadick notching 10 kills on 32 swings for a .241 hitting percentage to go along with a team-high seven block assists. Ohio native Michelle Strizak added 10 kills in her homecoming.
Freshman setter Jordyn Poulter registered 40 assists as well as eight digs and a season-high tying five block assists.
Senior Julia Conard paced the Illini with 17 digs, while sophomore Brandi Donnelly added 12 in the match.
Illinois next returns to Huff Hall on Saturday (Nov. 14) to host Rutgers at 7 p.m. CT. Saturday's match will also be available on BTN Plus.
