WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the first time since 2009, the Fighting Illini volleyball team left West Lafayette, Ind., with a win over Purdue as Illinois fought off the No. 10 Boilermakers in a five-set classic (21-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-27, 15-11) on Wednesday (Sept. 21) night in the Big Ten conference opener for both teams at Holloway Gymnasium.
The Illini (8-4, 1-0 B1G) extend their win streak to six matches with their first win over a top-10 opponent since the 2014 season, when the Illini defeated No. 10 Nebraska in five-sets on Nov. 26.
Senior Naya Crittenden equaled a career-high 15 kills on 28 swings and only five errors for a .357 hitting percentage and five blocks to pace the Illini, while sophomore Ali Bastianelli added a match-high 11 blocks in the win.
After dropping the fourth set with a 2-1 lead in the match, the Illini came out strong to start the decisive fifth set with back-to-back blocks. The two teams then traded the lead back-and-forth, before the score was knotted at 7-7 on a UI hitting error. Three-straight points opened up a 10-7 lead for the visitors, but Purdue (10-2, 0-1 B1G) battled back to within 11-10 on a Danielle Cuttino kill. From there, the Illini scored the next four of five points, including the final three on a service ace from senior Danielle Davis sandwiched between a pair of Orange and Blue blocks to seal the five-set victory.
As expected in the heated rivalry, both teams came out firing in the opening set and the period entered a 15-15 tie midway through the first. The Boilermakers then used a 6-2 run to take a 21-17 edge. Back-to-back Illini points closed the gap to 21-19, but Purdue then tallied the next four of six points to take the opener.
The Illini responded in the second and jumped out to an early 9-5 lead on a Bastianelli service ace. UI continued to control the set with three-straight points, capped by a block from Bastianelli and classmate Jordyn Poulter, pushed the advantage to 17-12. A 6-2 run from Purdue, including four-straight points, cut the lead to one at 19-18, but the Illini answered with their own 6-2 run to even the match a 1-1.
The third set proved to be the most competitive period of the match with 15 ties and seven lead changes. Neither team held more than a two-point lead throughout as the Illini broke a 23-23 tie on a Boilermaker hitting error, followed by a kill from freshman Jacqueline Quade for the 2-1 advantage.
It was another back-and-forth set in the fourth with another 13 ties and six lead changes. Purdue grabbed the first significant lead of the set at 11-8, but four-straight points propelled the Illini to the 12-11 lead. The Illini continued to hold the edge throughout the next several points, before a solo block from Quade had the Illini looking to close out the match at 21-17. The Boilermakers had other plans as six-straight points put Purdue up by two at 23-21. The Illini evened up the score twice more, before the Boilers converted on their third set point.
Joining Crittenden in double figures was senior Michelle Strizak and Quade with 13 kills each.
Poulter continued her strong performance with 50 assists to go along with six kills on 11 attacks and a .545 hitting percentage, five blocks and five digs.
Junior Brandi Donnelly and Davis each totaled a team-high 13 digs, with Strizak contributing eight on the night.
As a team, the Illini registered a .221 hitting percentage to Purdue's .206 clip, while also outblocking the Boilermakers 14-11. The Illini added seven service aces in the win.
Following four weeks and nine matches away from Champaign, the Illini finally return to Huff Hall for their Big Ten home opener against Rutgers on Saturday (Sept. 24) night at 7 p.m. CT.
