CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – With double-digit kill outings from junior Ali Bastianelli and freshman Megan Cooney, the Illinois volleyball team cruised to a straight-sets (25-23, 25-19, 25-20) win over Ohio State on Friday (October 13) night in Huff Hall.
Bastianelli and Cooney each totaled 11 kills on 27 attacks and only two errors for a .333 hitting percentage to pace the Illini offense, while the junior middle blocker led all players with five blocks on the night. Sophomore Jacqueline Quade added nine kills in the win.
As a team, the Illini registered a .256 hitting percentage with junior Jordyn Poulter posting 32 assists and a team-high eight digs on the night.
Sophomore Annika Gereau added seven digs and a game-high three aces, while freshman Tyanna Omazic also served up two aces for the Illini (14-4, 5-2).
After an early 5-2 advantage for the Illini, the Buckeyes (10-8, 3-4) knotted things up at 7-7 and from there it was a side-out set that saw eight ties over the next several points. OSU broke an 18-18 tie with four-straight points to take a 22-18 edge, but the Illini answered back by finishing off the opening stanza with a 7-1 run, including four-straight points – including three kills and a block - from Bastianelli for the 25-23 set one win.
It was a back-and-forth start to the second until the Illini used four-straight points, including back-to-back Cooney kills and a Bastianelli and Quade block, to pull ahead at 11-7. From there, the Illini pushed their lead out to seven at 21-14 on back-to-back Gereau service aces. Ohio State battled back to close with 22-18 with a 4-1 mini run, but the Illini held their ground as back-to-back Bastianelli kills set up set point, before a Quade kill sealed the 25-19 second set victory and the 2-0 advantage heading into the break.
The Illini held an early advantage in the third, before pushing their lead to 11-6 on a 5-1 run capped by a block from Cooney and Omazic. The Lenexa, Kansas native then gave the Illini their biggest lead of the period at 14-8 with an ace, but a 10-4 run from the Buckeyes knotted the score at 18-18. A Buckeye service error, followed by a Quade kill and another Gereau ace propelled the Illini to the 21-18 edge. The two teams traded points until a block from Poulter and Bastianelli sent the Illini to the 25-20 set win and the 3-0 match victory.
The Illini wrap up their four-match homestand on Saturday (October 14) as they welcome in Maryland for its annual Pink Match at 7 p.m. CT in Huff Hall.
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