EUGENE, Ore. – The No. 21 Fighting Illini volleyball team wrapped up play in the Nike Invitational in dominating fashion as the Orange & Blue secured a 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-18) sweep of Saint Mary's on Saturday (Sept. 10) at Matthew Knight Arena.
Senior middle blocker Katie Stadick registered a match-high 11 kills on 15 swings and just on error for a .667 hitting percentage as well as six block assists. Classmate Michelle Strizak joined her in double figures with 10 kills on the night.
Back-to-back Illini blocks started things off as UI jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the opening set. UI pushed the score to 10-3 with five-straight points, including three-straight Strizak scores. The Illini then cruised from there as a Donnelly ace made it 20-10 in favor of Illinois, before a 6-0 run finished the set, with four points coming off the serve of freshman Annika Gereau.
The second set proved to be the most competitive, as it saw six ties and three lead changes. SMC recorded the first two points of the second set, but a 6-1 Illini run gave the visitors a 6-3 lead on a kill from freshman Jacqueline Quade. The frame entered an 10-10 tie midway through, but the Illini grabbed control with six of the next seven points to build a 16-11 advantage. Back-to-back Gael points closed the gap to 16-13, but that would be as close as SMC would get as the Illini pushed their lead back out to 22-15 on a SMC service error and sailed to the 25-18 set win.
After an early 2-2 tie in the third, the Illini raced out to a 9-3 edge on the strength of its block and three Stadick kills. SMC continued to fight though and tallied the next four of five scores to cut the lead to 10-7. UI then responded rattling off five-straight points, including the final four coming of the serve of senior Danielle Davis, to build a 14-7 advantage. Another Stadick slam then pushed the lead out further at 17-10 as the Illini looked to close out the set. Trailed 21-12, the Gaels notched four-straight scores, but it would not be enough as UI cruised to the straight-set victory.
Sophomore setter Jordyn Poulter quarterbacked the Illini offense with 27 assists and led her team to a .302 hitting percentage – highlighted by hitting percentages over .400 in both the first and third sets. She also added eight digs, six block assists, five kills and a .571 hitting percentage in the win.
Junior Brandi Donnelly totaled 12 digs in the match. Once again, the Illini outblocked their opponent, 14-7, with sophomore Ali Bastianelli turning in a team-high seven block assists.
Illinois next concludes nonconference tournament action next weekend at the Billiken Invitational, hosted by Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, Mo., on Sept. 16-17. The Illini will face Omaha at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, before taking on Murray State at 10 a.m. on Saturday and the host Billikens at 7 p.m. later that night.
