CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois volleyball's first match at Huff Hall this season resulted in a sweep as the Fighting Illini topped Valparaiso on Tuesday night.
As a team, the Fighting Illini hit .385 with 45 kills in the match. Defensively, the Orange and Blue logged 44 digs and 12 blocks while holding the Beacons to a .056 hitting clip.
Once again, Raina Terry led the way with 13 kills while Brooke Mosher tallied 35 assists. Defensively, Terry, Sarah Bingham, Kennedy Collins and Cari Bohm each logged five blocks.
How It Happened
The Illini jumped ahead 14-10 with back-to-back blocks and a Terry kill forced Valpo to burn a timeout with Illinois ahead by five. Not letting up, a 3-0 rally with Collins behind the service line gave the Orange and Blue the 21-13 edge. Another kill by Terry brought Illinois to set point before a bad set by the Beacons closed out the 25-17 victory in the opening set for the Fighting Illini.
The momentum continued for the Illini in the second frame as back-to-back aces by Terry forced the opposition to call a timeout with Illinois ahead, 9-5. However, a surge from the Beacons tied the set at 10 apiece. A Kayla Burbage kill broke up the stalemate, and a 4-0 run including a block from Bingham and Bohm helped Illinois build a 16-11 advantage. A 3-0 run with back-to-back kills from Burbage gave Illinois set point and the junior put the 25-17 win with her ninth kill of the match.
Illinois jumped out to a 5-1 lead to start the third set, with Valpo using a timeout looking to halt the Illini's momentum. However, the Beacons did not go away quietly, coming within a point of the Illini lead. Late in the set, a 7-0 rally with Bianca May serving gave Illinois the 17-9 edge. Looking to close out the contest, kills from Bingham and Terry gave the Illini match point before an error by Valpo sealed the 25-19 victory for Illinois in the third set and the squad's first sweep of the season
Up Next
Illinois hosts Wichita State at Huff Hall on Friday night with first serve slated for 5 p.m. on B1G+.
Notes
- Starters: Brooke Mosher, Raina Terry, Sarah Bingham, Kennedy Collins, Vanessa Pan, Cari Bohm and Lily Barry
- The Illini wore short sleeved white jerseys for the first time this season.
- Terry logged a pair of aces, giving her 131 in her career. The mark is tied for eighth all-time in the Illini record books.
- Bianca May tallied a career-high nine digs.
- The Illinois volleyball program moved to 2-0-0 against Valpo all time.
- Attendance was called at 2,095.
