CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – After a slow start to the day's first match of the Illini Classic, the No. 14 Illinois volleyball team rebounded to earn a 3-1 win (21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-21) over Xavier on Saturday (Aug. 27) morning at Huff Hall.
The Illini improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Musketeers fell to 1-1 in 2016.
Seniors Michelle Strizak and Katie Stadick paced the Illini in the match, with Strizak earning her first career double-double with 14 kills and a career-high 10 digs and Stadick also chipping in 14 kills on 20 swings for a .550 hitting percentage.
It was a back-and-forth affair to start the opening set with eight ties in the first 24 points. Tied at 12-12, the Musketeers rattled off a mini 6-2 run to take control of the set. The Illini closed to within 22-19, but that would be as close as the home team would get with Xavier taking set one, 25-21.
The Illini looked to rebound in the second and raced out to an early 8-4 lead, but a 14-4 Xavier run, including a stretch 10 of 11 points that went to the visitors, gave the Musketeers a 18-12 edge. The Illini appeared to be on the brink of falling behind by two sets at 22-16, before eight-straight points on the serve of senior Allison Palmer changed the momentum of the match and propelled UI to the lead at 24-22. Both teams then traded points as a Strizak kill capped the second-set comeback.
It was a similar story in the third frame as the Illini again grabbed an early 8-4 edge, but this time they did not give back the lead, building an 18-12 advantage, highlighted by a combined five kills from Strizak and Stadick. Leading by four at 24-20, the Musketeers battled back with three-straight points cut the deficit to one at 24-23, but a kill from sophomore setter Jordyn Poulter gave the Illini the 25-23 set victory.
In another competitive start to the fourth period, the Illini used its block to seize a 15-10 advantage. Back-to-back Stadick kills then pushed the lead to 17-12 as the Orange and Blue controlled the remainder of the set, before a Xavier service error ended the match in favor of the Illini.
Freshman Jacqueline Quade continued her impressive rookie start with a team-high 15 kills, while sophomore Ali Bastianelli led the way at the net with six blocks. Senior Katie Roustio, Poulter and Stadick also registered three blocks in the win.
Poulter added 48 assists in the match.
Defensively, junior Brandi Donnelly and senior Danielle Davis each turned in 12 digs for the Illini.
The Orange and Blue, who hit .221 as a team, took advantage of 11 Musketeer service errors, while also posting two service aces themselves.
Illinois will be back in action later tonight as the Orange and Blue wrap up the Illini Classic against Missouri State at 7 p.m. CT in Huff Hall.
