CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois volleyball team sent its 2016 seniors off in style as the Illini earned a 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 20-25, 25-21) win over No. 24 Ohio State in the home season finale on Saturday (Nov. 19) in Huff Hall.
With back-to-back wins on the weekend, the Illini improve to 16-13 and 9-9 in the Big Ten Conference, while the Buckeyes fall to 18-12 and 8-10 in the league.
The Illini dominated play at the net to outblock OSU, 15 to eight, with sophomore Ali Bastianelli leading the way with 12 stuffs on the night. Classmate Jordyn Poulter added eight blocks to go along with 37 assists and senior Michelle Strizak registered her sixth career double-double with a match-high 17 kills, 10 digs and five blocks.
It was a quick 4-1 start for the Buckeyes in the opening set, but a 7-0 run put the Illini 8-4 early on. OSU came back to knot the score at 13-13 as the set went back-and-forth for the remainder of the stanza, with neither team backing down. With the game tied at 23-23, Strizak and fellow senior Naya Crittenden put the Illini up for good with back-to-back kills and a 25-23 set win.
The Illini continued its momentum into the second period with a 6-1 start capped by back-to-back blocks. UI continued to lead throughout, but the Buckeyes closed to within one at 16-15 with four-straight scores. The Illini responded with an 8-2 run for a 24-17 lead, before an OSU service error propelled the Orange and Blue to a 2-0 lead heading into the break.
After a fast OSU opening of the third as five-unanswered points turned into a 12-6 edge. Trailing by four at 16-12, the Illini used a 6-2 run to even things at 18-18, but another 7-2 run – this time in favor of the visitors – gave OSU a 25-20 set three win.
It was all Illini to begin in the fourth as a 6-2 start turned into a 15-11 advantage following a Poulter setter dump, but the Buckeyes then notched the next six of seven points to storm back for a 17-16 lead. From there, the Illini responded by retaking the lead at 21-18 with a 5-1 run that was finished off by a block from Striak and Bastianelli. Back-to-back Buckeye points cut the deficit to one, but a OSU service error combined with a Strizak kill put UI up 23-20, before a Strizak kill followed by block from Poulter and Bastianelli sealed the four-set victory.
As a team, the Illini posted a .224 hitting percentage in the win and hit above a .220 clip in three of the four sets, while holding the Buckeyes to a .160 team hitting percentage.
Defensively, junior Brandi Donnelly turned in her 26th career match with 20 digs or more with 21 against the Buckeyes, while senior Danielle Davis contributed 12 digs and freshman Caroline Welsh added 10.
Following the conclusion of the match, the Illini honored its eight seniors, including Naya Crittenden, Danielle Davis, McKenna Kelsay, Allison Palmer, Katie Roustio, Katie Stadick, Michelle Strizak and manager Maddie Siambekos for there dedication and contributions to the Fighting Illini volleyball program.
The Illini now turns their attention to the final regular season weekend of play as they head east to face Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., on Friday (Nov. 25), before traveling to University Park, Pa., to take on No. 15 Penn State on Saturday (Nov. 26). Both matches are set for a 6 p.m. CT start.
