TEMPE, Ariz. – Sixth-ranked Illinois faced its first true away test in a thrilling five-set contest that saw the 10th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils come away with a victory from the Wells Fargo Arena in the Sun Devil Invitational finale. The Fighting Illini move to 9-2 on the season with the loss that snapped a six-match winning streak while Arizona State remains undefeated improving to 11-0 on the 2015 campaign.
"This was a fun match and we were able to do a lot of things and make a lot of changes and adjust," stated head coach Kevin Hambly. "It was a fight. They were a good team and we looked forward to that. Despite not playing our best, we fought our way into a fifth set."
Despite going down 4-1 early in the opening set, and being down by as many as six points at 15-9, the Orange and Blue fought back to knot the opening frame at 15-15 off of six-straight Jocelynn Birks serves. There was just one lead change in the set to accompany a trio of ties, including knots at 16- and 19-all. The Illini were the first to 20 and UI took three of the next four points to force an Arizona State timeout at 23-20. ASU grabbed the next two points resulting in an Illinois timeout. Out of the break, Katie Stadick found the floor to give the Illini side a set point. Illinois moved to a perfect 11-0 in the opening set with the 25-23 victory over the Sun Devils.
The second set saw the hosts lead from start to finish aside from three single-digit ties in the frame. Down 18-13, Illinois called a timeout and responded with three-straight points, pulling within two points of the Sun Devils. Arizona State finished the frame, taking a 25-19 victory and also held UI to just a .077 hitting percentage.
Arizona State scored the first eight points in the third set before the Fighting Illini unit could get on the board. An ASU attack error got UI its first tally in the set and Katie Roustio followed with a kill to make it 9-2. The Sun Devils jumped out to a 13-2 lead before a Stadick kill gave the Illini another tally on the score sheet. Illinois broke into double digits in the set thanks to an Ali Stark kill, but fell in the frame 25-11 to ASU.
Jordyn Poulter opened the fourth set with an ace to get Illinois on the board first. The Illini, however, would trail but as many as three points on two occasions with the last instance coming at 7-4. Back-to-back kills by Stadick knotted the contest at 9-9. Illinois grabbed the next two points as well, forcing an ASU timeout. The Sun Devils pulled within one at 11-10, but Illinois ran away with the set and ultimately won 25-15, with Brandi Donnelly putting the final six serves into action.
In the first fifth set of the season for Illinois, play opened with the sides trading the first five points. ASU took an early 4-2 advantage and led until a Stadick kill knotted the deciding set at 9-9. Stadick also found the floor to make it 10-all. Michelle Strizak got in on the action, knotting the contest at 11, but Arizona State took off and claimed the set 15-11.
Stadick hit .389 in the contest with a career-high 18 kills off of 36 attacks and just four errors. The junior also contributed a career-best four solo blocks as well as three blocking assists and a dig. Strizak offered up 12 kills on 44 swings for a .136 mark to accompany three digs and two solo blocks. Birks registered seven kills and 10 digs in the contest.
Poulter picked up her fourth double-double of the season, and second of the day, with a 38 assist, 11 dig effort against the Sun Devils. The freshman also contributed a solo block and a pair of blocking assists.
Stark added 13 digs, four assists and a pair of kills in her five sets of action. Donnelly posted her third 20-dig performance of the season, and 13th of her young career.
With the completion of the Sun Devil Invitational also comes the end of non-conference play for the Fighting Illini. Next up for the Orange and Blue is a trip east to visit Maryland and Rutgers this upcoming weekend, which will also mark the fourth-straight road trip for Illinois.
"Maryland and Rutgers will be tough so we're going to get back and go to work in preparation for our next trip," stated Hambly.
