CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois volleyball team suffered its first setback of the season to Missouri State after an up and down five-set (22-25, 25-14, 22-25, 25-15, 10-15) match in the finale of the Illini Classic Presented by Hyatt Place on Saturday (Aug. 27) night at Huff Hall.
Despite the loss, the Illini, who moved to 2-1 on the season, earned the Illini Classic title after the championship came down to a tiebreaker. With the Illini, MSU and Xavier all finishing the tournament with a 2-1 record, the champion was crowned by set-win percentage.
Senior Katie Stadick was named the tournament MVP after registering 33 kills on 60 swings for a .433 hitting percentage and 14 blocks in three matches. Joining her on the all-tournament team was classmate Naya Crittenden and sophomore Jordyn Poulter.
Against the Bears, Crittenden came up big with a career-high 15 kills on 24 swings and just one error for a .583 hitting percentage and added four blocks, while Poulter orchestrated the Illini offense with 50 assists on the night and finished the weekend 134 assists. She also added six blocks against the Bears.
In a close opening set that saw 11 ties and five lead changes, MSU broke a 22-22 tie with three-straight points to close out the first period. The Illini responded by dominating the second set, using a 13-3 run midway through the frame and a .520 hitting percentage with 16 kills on 25 attacks to even the match at one set a piece.
After a similar story in the third set as it was in the first, including another 13 ties and seven lead changes, that gave the Bears the 2-1 advantage, the Illini were in need of set win to continue the match.
Crittenden helped the Illini do just that as three kills and a block assist from the Modesto, Calif., native propelled UI to a 7-2 lead. MSU would not get closer than four points for the rest of the set as the Illini rolled to a 25-15 victory and pushed the match to the fifth.
Once in the fifth, the Bears quickly grabbed the momentum back with a 6-1 run to start play. The Illini fought their way back to within 13-10, but back-to-back MSU points sealed the victory for the visitors.
"Offense wins sets, you have to play defense to win matches," said head coach Kevin Hambly. "We have to defend. We did not defend and they did. You saw [Missouri State] scrambling around for plays. We did not do that."
Freshman Jacqueline Quade earned her second double-double of the season with 13 kills and 11 digs, while senior Michelle Strizak and Stadick joined Quade and Crittenden in double figure kills with 12 and 11, respectively. Sophomore Ali Bastianelli also turned in a .778 hitting percentage with seven kills on nine swings and no errors.
As a team, the Illini outblocked the Bears, 16 to five, with Stadick recording a team-high eight blocks and Bastianelli notching seven.
Sophomore Brandi Donnelly once again paced the Illini on the defensive side with 19 digs.
Illinois next heads west for the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge, hosted by University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo., on Sept. 3-4. The Illini will take on No. 11 Stanford on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT, before facing the host Buffs on Sunday at 7 p.m.
2016 Illini Classic All-Tournament Team
Katie Stadick, Illinois – MVP
Jordyn Poulter, Illinois
Naya Crittenden, Illinois
Lily Johnson, Missouri State
Lynsey Wright, Missouri State
Abbey Bessler, Xavier
Danielle Harbin, Arkansas
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