CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 14 Illinois volleyball team started off the 2016 season in strong fashion on Friday (Aug. 26) night as the Illini swept Arkansas, 3-0 (25-19, 25-13, 25-22) in front of a crowd of 2,805 at the 11th Annual "Stuff Huff" promotion as a part of the Illini Classic.
"We did some good things offensively, especially throughout the first two sets, but we have a ton of stuff to work on and that is right where we should be at the first match of the year," said head coach Kevin Hambly.
The Illini earned their 21st-straight win in their home opener behind a standout performance from freshman Jacqueline Quade in her collegiate debut, notching 15 kills on 21 swings and only three errors for a .521 hitting percentage, to go along with eight digs.
"I thought my attacking was good and I had a lot of help from my teammates. I had a lot of open opportunities, so that was nice. We have been preparing for this for the past three weeks in preseason so I felt not fully ready, but definitely confident with the work I put in with everything and confident that my teammates would help me with everything if I was struggling. They had my back."
"I think the stats reflect how I feel [on Quade's performance]," said sophomore setter Jordyn Poulter. "She did great. She maintained a high level of composure for her first collegiate match, so that was awesome."
After a Naya Crittenden and Ali Bastianelli block opened the 2016 season, the Illini jumped out quickly for an early 9-3 lead behind three kills from Crittenden in the first set. An 8-3 Arkansas run midway through the set cut the lead to one at 18-17, but the Illini responded with four-straight points before finishing off the opener, 25-19.
The Illini continued their momentum into the second set, where they shot out to an 8-2 edge, capped by a Quade kill. The Razorbacks closed to within 9-5, but that would be as close as the visitors would get in the second as the Illini dominated the period from start to finish. The Orange and Blue connected on 16 kills and committed just two errors in 28 attacks to register a match-high .500 hitting percentage in the set.
Out of the break, Arkansas was determined to make the third set a competitive one with 14 ties and four lead changes throughout the period. With the score tied at 20-20, back-to-back kills from senior Michelle Strizak and Quade gave the Illini the momentum back as well as a two-point edge. Leading by one at 23-22, UI took advantage of a Razorback service error, before Quade fittingly finished off the match with her 15th kill of the night.
Strizak joined Quade in double figure kills with 11 on the night, while senior Katie Stadick also turned in an efficient performance with eight kills on 14 swings for a .521 hitting percentage and had three blocks in the win. Crittenden also added six kills and three blocks.
Poulter paced the offense with 36 assists, while defensively junior Brandi Donnelly led the Illini with 12 digs.
As a team, the Illini posted a .337 hitting percentage, including a .500 mark in the second set, and three service aces.
Illinois continues play in the Illini Classic on Saturday and will face Xavier at 10 a.m. CT in Huff Hall. The first 250 fans in attendance will receive free breakfast with the Illini. The Orange and Blue will then wrap up their season-opening tournament against Missouri State at 7 p.m. Saturday evening.
